tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7653755100546912812024-03-13T14:21:28.452-06:00Elesa Hagbergspeculative fiction writer, book cover designer, cookie enthusiastelesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comBlogger601125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-87234399882278475492024-03-11T13:32:00.008-06:002024-03-11T14:00:27.018-06:00A Mother's Eyes by Keven Allan<p style="text-align: center;"> This may be my favorite book cover I've designed so far. it's just so pretty!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuVIUUM-DtSSXsAFko-SdlFwpaRRTIJ1ezFEtxISDYKBAH5OeweTYD8Kb28el0z9MJsHQylijbYZJl78976rGyDOvU2RJkOzPw1gF3tgUv1I3MmOCIdladwbQN3s5PhrbBeIbmrmnJxK7qTbytmmxjjRHPDdX6YQv2TlugjRWeFpeZ0D8KmUYChwgvxE_/s915/A%20mother's%20Eyes%20mockup1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="915" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuVIUUM-DtSSXsAFko-SdlFwpaRRTIJ1ezFEtxISDYKBAH5OeweTYD8Kb28el0z9MJsHQylijbYZJl78976rGyDOvU2RJkOzPw1gF3tgUv1I3MmOCIdladwbQN3s5PhrbBeIbmrmnJxK7qTbytmmxjjRHPDdX6YQv2TlugjRWeFpeZ0D8KmUYChwgvxE_/s320/A%20mother's%20Eyes%20mockup1.png" width="320" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;">It's the first in a trilogy, so we'll be seeing more of these. This book is currently in its final stages of production, so stay tuned! I'll update the info as soon as the release date is announced!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh561D4b1rypvnBchhnZHnl-GmPTF2PmQTHaZFIEiZ1vPBVUR7V3lJJ7yIgxjhNKUD_L475r9nJxfW9kH5jyHKiqOFs4gl2Eq1WeZDKpZJF2gWnPUu6trzWqP-hRLyPmo-GPaUDUeSMsZKoichDoOLl5u3hbn7PdJJ560OwnSakKXL35D5gTy8ZE34_yYO7/s1616/A%20Mother's%20Eyes%205.25x8%20FINAL%20-%20Front.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1616" data-original-width="1061" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh561D4b1rypvnBchhnZHnl-GmPTF2PmQTHaZFIEiZ1vPBVUR7V3lJJ7yIgxjhNKUD_L475r9nJxfW9kH5jyHKiqOFs4gl2Eq1WeZDKpZJF2gWnPUu6trzWqP-hRLyPmo-GPaUDUeSMsZKoichDoOLl5u3hbn7PdJJ560OwnSakKXL35D5gTy8ZE34_yYO7/w420-h640/A%20Mother's%20Eyes%205.25x8%20FINAL%20-%20Front.png" width="420" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-40203987680510260042024-03-04T15:25:00.008-07:002024-03-04T15:29:38.465-07:00That Time I Paid Too Much for a Jacket, and then Complained About it for a Really Long Time<p>THE FACTS ARE THESE:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I needed/wanted a black jacket.</li><li>I am a cheapskate.</li><li>I like shopping at thrift stores.</li></ul><div><br /></div><div>With those thrilling facts as a set up, I will now reveal to you that I one day found myself at the local thrift store, trying on jackets. There were several that a really liked. But something must have gone horribly wrong with their pricing sticker machine, because they were expensive. Like $40.00. $40.00! For a used jacket at a thrift store! Well, as I said, I'm a cheap skate, and I wasn't having it. So while they looked amazing on me, I hung them and their expensive pricetags back on the rack. </div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Except there was this one. Black with faux leather accents. That was really exactly what I was looking for. And it fit perfect. It made my skin look brighter and my IQ higher. But it was $30.00. Still a ridiculous price for a thrift store. But I wanted it enough that I thought I might try haggling a bit at the register. Not something I've ever done before, but why not give it a try?</p><p><br /></p><p>So I took my overpriced jacket, and my son took the crappy little porcelain music box he wanted to buy up to the register to purchase our wares. </p><p><br /></p><p>The music box had no price tag on it. I make my kids do their own haggling, so he said to the man at the register, "This doesn't have a price tag. So can I get it for $0.50?"</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLeD9l9EXSieSnnmLW704NVz7fGUrvF6jErM3Fdh7srWYuAG1Xhwsbf6Vju0sNg3RYNnqihKQu81ITGRM0YoDF5rPpQkQk0BJGENGag5sJ1KeyNurlgsP3qTZSgPZgUmZJs9BD_ManHsH9uBFEaoLijO3X7kSEYvy1fxOK7XD6XCVae-h2htI3ZRU9g/s3277/music%20box.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3277" data-original-width="2160" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLeD9l9EXSieSnnmLW704NVz7fGUrvF6jErM3Fdh7srWYuAG1Xhwsbf6Vju0sNg3RYNnqihKQu81ITGRM0YoDF5rPpQkQk0BJGENGag5sJ1KeyNurlgsP3qTZSgPZgUmZJs9BD_ManHsH9uBFEaoLijO3X7kSEYvy1fxOK7XD6XCVae-h2htI3ZRU9g/w422-h640/music%20box.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><p>Register man called a manager over for approval, and the manager said, "This is a nice little music box. We'll sell it for $2.50." </p><p><br /></p><p>My son had $1.75 to his name. He said, "Oh. I can't get it then."</p><p><br /></p><p>They said. "Ok." and set it aside, confident that some other compulsive hoarder would come along and buy their dumb music box. I rolled my eyes and told them to add it on to my purchases, because I thought they were being lame. </p><p><br /></p><p>But then it was my turn. I said, "Thirty dollars seems like a lot for this jacket. Is the price flexible at all?"</p><p><br /></p><p>Register man said, "Of course!" and called over the same manager who doesn't know how to accurately price things. Manager looked the jacket over, checking the seems for secret veins of gold, and said, "I think we could do $20. No, $25.00. Yes. $25.00."</p><p><br /></p><p>This is where I should have said, "How about $15.00?" since that was the far upper limit of what I was willing to pay for a used jacket with no recognizable label. But instead, I rolled my eyes again, and said, "Fine." and took my jacket lined with diamonds and my son and his music box and we went home where my son immediately ripped the musical mechanism out of the music box and threw the porcelain cat on the porcelain log away.</p><p><br /></p><p>You probably think this story is over now, because how long can a person drone on about crap they found at the thrift store? but you are very wrong. </p><p><br /></p><p>Because the next thing I did was get the jacket cleaned. I bought it at the thrift store. I don't have a clue what sore of hijinks that jacket got up to before I brought it home with me. I wanted to wash all that hijinks off. The label said Dry Clean Only, so I took it to the local dry cleaner, signed the little form promising that if the item was ruined I would not hold them responsible and went about my merry way.</p><p><br /></p><p>A few days later I went back to pick it up, excited to start rocking my new black jacket. But something wicked had happened at the cleaning facility, and my faux leather sleeves were now stiff, flaking, plastic sleeves. I would never be able to wear it to the library or a funeral, for it was far too noisy.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="456" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DXFScID_yJI" width="549" youtube-src-id="DXFScID_yJI"></iframe></div><br /><p>Did I complain to the dry cleaning cashier. No, Brown Bear, I did not. I had signed the waiver. I could have yelled at her, but what good would it do? In the end, I knew I still would have walked out with a trash jacket they wouldn't take responsibility for. Besides, I am pathologically nonconfrontational, and so I said nothing and took my garbage jacket home.</p><p><br /></p><p>It has been about a year. That's how long it took for me to come to terms with this, and not fly into a fuming rage every time I tried to write about it.</p><p><br /></p><p>But here is the thing. The people at the Thrift Store, while they might suck at pricing things, and suck at haggling, they didn't deceive me in any way. They offered a used jacket, at a ticketed price. And I paid. <i><b>I </b></i>am the one that paid the price. Even before I sent it to the dry cleaners I was so mad about how much I paid for it that I felt a little sick. Who is the moron in that scenario? Me, that's who. The dummy who paid a price she didn't want to pay for something that no one was forcing her to buy. </p><p><br /></p><p>And whose fault is it that my jacket was ruined at the dry cleaner? Well, the dry cleaner, obviously, but that is why they make you sign a waiver. Because stuff like that happens, and it probably happens all the time. </p><p><br /></p><p>What is the moral of this story? </p><p><br /></p><p>Do you know? I don't. Maybe it is not to be such a cheapskate. Except if I was a TRUE cheapskate I wouldn't have paid $20 to have it professionally cleaned. </p><p><br /></p><p>Let's check back here in another year, and see if time has lent me any wisdom. </p><p><br /></p><p>But, since I mentioned it, why does WISDOM sound like WAS DUMB? </p><p><br /></p><p>Why did I buy that jacket? I don't know. I was dumb. I wisdom. </p><p><br /></p><p>You have to admit its problematic. </p>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-44186111692214041192024-02-08T01:55:00.008-07:002024-03-11T14:00:47.528-06:00Splinter's Edge by Boydell Bown<p style="text-align: center;"> I really only designed half of this cover. It was really only so so, until the author, Boydell Bown, suggested changes to the title font and updates to the backround. And now it is awesome. It hardly counts to put it in my portfolio, but I wanted you to know about it too!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t6QNU2zrud99nd0yGMThWBDkCRzeA21pTXwoNG3B79B3AwKTwuZXgCB3f10IadR-DuGx75Nrj9qTuM5hBkTLtqs8jbH3nMYQhmI3I_EmKKfZyV_avzG0FasBfKzT6ZHdwBk02_j9fHnuweGzR9esKZIKQFfZwaKwsUnmpHRLOgeiJ8wKn65KRSi6kTdM/s945/Splinter's%20Edge%20mockup.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="945" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-t6QNU2zrud99nd0yGMThWBDkCRzeA21pTXwoNG3B79B3AwKTwuZXgCB3f10IadR-DuGx75Nrj9qTuM5hBkTLtqs8jbH3nMYQhmI3I_EmKKfZyV_avzG0FasBfKzT6ZHdwBk02_j9fHnuweGzR9esKZIKQFfZwaKwsUnmpHRLOgeiJ8wKn65KRSi6kTdM/s320/Splinter's%20Edge%20mockup.png" width="320" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 700; text-align: start;">THE UNIVERSE IS TRYING TO KILL HIM</span></div><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Lahn just wants to ignore the world, build some code with his AI, and hide from the starless green sky.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />But when horrible visions of future-tech destruction invade his carefully curated calm, he will have to risk his life and fight his fears to find out if the visions are real, or a product of his own depersonalization.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If the visions are real, everyone’s at risk, especially those he loves most. And no one but Lahn can save them all.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Probably time to put on some pants.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Splinters-Edge-Boydell-Bown-ebook/dp/B0CSD6F4QR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=31JF6Q13LGDKY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Y2BPPmBN3PtMNvulIjZWV8MHpwGvuiqrpRUoRU-Je-74DSkSZyHu0dF4Ugx6jrf8d5BduKpgzgmr93WHVGc995HhapZjUMsg-YuvjY2VrIa-NPdo1cMw5Zzx-Jov41VF9O_LFADjHcvDKu8a33Xperif3On8pNsEhmIMCpo40EvTeRv8ImknLrNHtzIzAAVM.t87-CnRp5tHey-5z-DEzXV4-MYkowZ5RgH2Bp-T93Hs&dib_tag=se&keywords=splinter%27s+edge&qid=1710143936&s=digital-text&sprefix=splinter%27s+edge%2Cdigital-text%2C142&sr=1-1" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFe7PdZxenrwSFSs5CIpe5i20JKBomt0I9ygMzv_ZZKXD8fuwQSm9yfNG-f8g0ZY0wpXBQeDrOH9sTG-jFCCH4923Mz4MM18il_IzCbjBSZsjZkkkwAxaTwOf4da3bDOba1PI2SX-_tJ1RLHixSeknn8qsPrk8NeTfBzkPwc63QXAoQqN1VDmBqfENeE-n/s2397/02.26.24%20Splinters%20Edge%20Cover%20FINAL%20-%20ebook%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2397" data-original-width="1576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFe7PdZxenrwSFSs5CIpe5i20JKBomt0I9ygMzv_ZZKXD8fuwQSm9yfNG-f8g0ZY0wpXBQeDrOH9sTG-jFCCH4923Mz4MM18il_IzCbjBSZsjZkkkwAxaTwOf4da3bDOba1PI2SX-_tJ1RLHixSeknn8qsPrk8NeTfBzkPwc63QXAoQqN1VDmBqfENeE-n/w420-h640/02.26.24%20Splinters%20Edge%20Cover%20FINAL%20-%20ebook%20(1).png" width="420" /></a></div><br /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-34622651139096154802023-11-22T01:30:00.032-07:002024-03-11T09:49:04.413-06:00A Dickens Christmas, narrated by Benjamin Fife<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another cover design for ebook and audiobook. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmspLsKvqjWwtJ1dfuFH3LDBS7j346PAv944F60INXzAfws8gu8O6BfEPmzcJVgFtwb7O0VFJJjFUr7xL8y2eKIKRr5kl15idytmoRpMisEm0mFY2Axi3-lSEa4mP9Ahz4G8dTz8-oYaL4plR2Nxeqsyr746T8ImADGxEdOGqfI3ahNwn_moBaA6ddRNlY/s918/3.11.24%20dickens%20christmas%20mockup,%20square.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="918" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmspLsKvqjWwtJ1dfuFH3LDBS7j346PAv944F60INXzAfws8gu8O6BfEPmzcJVgFtwb7O0VFJJjFUr7xL8y2eKIKRr5kl15idytmoRpMisEm0mFY2Axi3-lSEa4mP9Ahz4G8dTz8-oYaL4plR2Nxeqsyr746T8ImADGxEdOGqfI3ahNwn_moBaA6ddRNlY/s320/3.11.24%20dickens%20christmas%20mockup,%20square.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_h2E2-G7hjxtkZMC5ZnJwZcBdbY96LOlk3cUhQkuK-Gv-IDaJaCm0ppv-1uUFq0qYxf7I0o2BaOswIvp8wh227pklX887hCtf8ToQ8zngcUBmNux9I74oCV5ta-KPQfh_VDY_cYG3uJctQOZwyG4Zjz8xHLXILwHV5fWXjKb4fwwLbOIXbiwSR10oJU0/s3000/Copy%20of%2011.11.23%20-%20Dickens%20Christmas%20Audiobook.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_h2E2-G7hjxtkZMC5ZnJwZcBdbY96LOlk3cUhQkuK-Gv-IDaJaCm0ppv-1uUFq0qYxf7I0o2BaOswIvp8wh227pklX887hCtf8ToQ8zngcUBmNux9I74oCV5ta-KPQfh_VDY_cYG3uJctQOZwyG4Zjz8xHLXILwHV5fWXjKb4fwwLbOIXbiwSR10oJU0/w640-h640/Copy%20of%2011.11.23%20-%20Dickens%20Christmas%20Audiobook.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8of_OyPcjd3fR0uwYdPq2o-jJFEfL1DgxaRWAP9v1pGc7sLvhMvFxXtR-oT_C4m3PCSlpSA8suzUsXI4VeWsltu6zCTcixc8qS2hCG77f1_5aFBLJcc03b-Mf1tYyDscunBnHxKLzLHDe-hS3p0148FpGpQ2vH8dDEhLoMgCXD-3XSf-RRbmNwY5z7sln/s2560/Copy%20of%2011.11.23%20Dickens%20Christmas%20ebook.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8of_OyPcjd3fR0uwYdPq2o-jJFEfL1DgxaRWAP9v1pGc7sLvhMvFxXtR-oT_C4m3PCSlpSA8suzUsXI4VeWsltu6zCTcixc8qS2hCG77f1_5aFBLJcc03b-Mf1tYyDscunBnHxKLzLHDe-hS3p0148FpGpQ2vH8dDEhLoMgCXD-3XSf-RRbmNwY5z7sln/w400-h640/Copy%20of%2011.11.23%20Dickens%20Christmas%20ebook.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-88506033623981613102023-09-01T01:51:00.001-06:002024-03-11T01:55:17.399-06:00Till Koi Do Us Part by Elesa Hagberg<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another book I wrote, and cover I designed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zQfCOB1J5IKzZejITPZjACjmeMvCxFAT_d4G1IBZTr2NdNcaxg0AvLU_GBEB-VgEcDrmHmmAtdj-JxYe35-RfHmZkMPdun6y2SoNT235XS0brohY-JbO6ZK7WitmMuOHVzggndxVvaE8a24pCOd55pkIWAfUYLPyn7eHO2OCN0dvnE1f-jvmja9YVZcS/s950/Koi%20Cover%20Mockup%204.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="950" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zQfCOB1J5IKzZejITPZjACjmeMvCxFAT_d4G1IBZTr2NdNcaxg0AvLU_GBEB-VgEcDrmHmmAtdj-JxYe35-RfHmZkMPdun6y2SoNT235XS0brohY-JbO6ZK7WitmMuOHVzggndxVvaE8a24pCOd55pkIWAfUYLPyn7eHO2OCN0dvnE1f-jvmja9YVZcS/s320/Koi%20Cover%20Mockup%204.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /> A fun short story about koi, love, and magic gone wrong.<p></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Till-Koi-Do-Us-Part-ebook/dp/B0CLJ17Z3Z/ref=sr_1_1?crid=31DIOFAG7P695&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2IcNt6qVoQ6s1-QXOfOGPDSkbG7MQYDuXmH9oss1P8g.6k5jiNQa2NtWKiIn-h9aiZITsABZ-5qGBxbOsITP5aE&dib_tag=se&keywords=till+koi+do+us+part&qid=1710143628&s=digital-text&sprefix=till+koi+do+us+par%2Cdigital-text%2C143&sr=1-1" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE</a></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0-MSan2XfdXKiXBDWxdWSAt770SEXcfUWWqy2PdXGPw3plf5N4RkNqihUxkTlSlOawskMy-R080AYOawsTHVgC7tY1Y7uVINXRDwHArz5uzofRChPM4gAId3YhGoWMxBMY-b8n7xlvNi21xCCAykDICuL6TDZj0H4N_X8LebHDJMV3MpiyC1IMnQzUWL/s1024/Koi%20Cover%202.2%20FINAL.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="672" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji0-MSan2XfdXKiXBDWxdWSAt770SEXcfUWWqy2PdXGPw3plf5N4RkNqihUxkTlSlOawskMy-R080AYOawsTHVgC7tY1Y7uVINXRDwHArz5uzofRChPM4gAId3YhGoWMxBMY-b8n7xlvNi21xCCAykDICuL6TDZj0H4N_X8LebHDJMV3MpiyC1IMnQzUWL/w420-h640/Koi%20Cover%202.2%20FINAL.png" width="420" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-69656309396892681952023-08-25T11:11:00.008-06:002024-03-04T15:30:43.645-07:00Lessons Learned from our very first cruise.<p>We went on a cruise last year, and we learned some valuable lessons that I believe must be shared. You're welcome. </p><p> </p><p>1. Plan in time for Flight Delays.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogY6MwRq8roc4EPPgfPYtlo3SA96jV8-57aULW5jcrInpy4iZ_MYc1tPwqi2VqOz-fEKnqUAP10wpOq5ijp9dWsqD7qt9faRjxFPdWrnbjOik0XZBStNITzCiQLIKOWBdsbRFHl5EtdlsO4RfxjnuU1rkwlxKIV6XkMQzHXLGOt1LuwmM8RMdMpaWqA/s3840/PXL_20220603_073743260.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgogY6MwRq8roc4EPPgfPYtlo3SA96jV8-57aULW5jcrInpy4iZ_MYc1tPwqi2VqOz-fEKnqUAP10wpOq5ijp9dWsqD7qt9faRjxFPdWrnbjOik0XZBStNITzCiQLIKOWBdsbRFHl5EtdlsO4RfxjnuU1rkwlxKIV6XkMQzHXLGOt1LuwmM8RMdMpaWqA/s16000/PXL_20220603_073743260.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>About 4 hours before we were planning to leave for the airport, we received a notice that our connecting flight had been canceled. Period. No rescheduling, no delays, just canceled. Which meant we could fly to New York, but then we'd be stuck there. My only option was to call customer service. And wait on hold for two hours. So I did. And the lady I eventually talked to was nice and helpful and tried very hard to find another flight for us, but because we had to be in Miami by 2:00 pm, we had a very narrow window to fit the flight in and the only viable flight was full. Sorry for the inconvenience. Wish we could help. </p><p><br /></p><p>Ultimately, we decided to drive up to the airport as planned and hope that someone there could help us. And if not, we could fly to New York and spend the weekend there. Surely there were worst places to spend a weekend. </p><p><br /></p><p>But, we found someone smart and capable at the check in counter, and that flight that had been full 4 hours before suddenly had two open seats and she put our names down. We had a flight all the way to Miami. </p><p><br /></p><p>Still, it spooked me. All the way up until we actually got on the boat, I was sure something would go wrong. That they would have given our tickets to someone else, or that we'd suddenly test positive for Covid, out of the blue, or that our passports would be invalid. </p><p><br /></p><p>We wanted to take a red eye flight so that we wouldn't have to pay for a hotel in Miami the night before our cruise, but we didn't account for the crap fest that is the airline industry right now. Stuff happens. Weather happens. Things go wrong. We should have allowed some extra time to account for it.</p><p><br /></p><p>It was pouring rain in Miami. Thus the canceled Flight. That isn't a water feature on the wall behind us. That is rain pouring down the glass of the covered walkway leading onto the boat. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYIR1SsgBBCPMz24KP1jsvG2iURcxxodbQ2JOGN7jqRScajwgYhrKO-cXAMfV-K1jA27V4y4yoQm_fImjReLCAfGCuBVMzA6YVQeE73jgkwjXyyk_Ce7FdFTuyFeC3daPvhKFxlYffRYIzcZTmmcNmnkTunBZ0PIveHo1WfkJB8h12qKu19ZI7ZN18Q/s2688/PXL_20220603_182613005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYIR1SsgBBCPMz24KP1jsvG2iURcxxodbQ2JOGN7jqRScajwgYhrKO-cXAMfV-K1jA27V4y4yoQm_fImjReLCAfGCuBVMzA6YVQeE73jgkwjXyyk_Ce7FdFTuyFeC3daPvhKFxlYffRYIzcZTmmcNmnkTunBZ0PIveHo1WfkJB8h12qKu19ZI7ZN18Q/s16000/PXL_20220603_182613005.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Myth #1: You can buy anything you need on the cruise ship.</p><p> </p><p>FALSE! Yes, there are stores on board the cruise ship. But unless you are in the market for watches or designer hand bags, you probably won't find what you need. For reals. There were two of THE SAME jewelry store, but not one convenience store. Perfume, yes. Expensive sandals, sure. Advil? No, ma'am. Tweezers? Not if your life depended on it.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnX6N7cff1EqYfL8KhDCmry-Lq65RVCR4vwXdboYPeX-a3Ci7Xx0WS7YEsUNJ-FTnodTVNL92kLUwIjKvCs5v-YDTNe9sPWuBiKt2lqHjRNrEPBuGawNmQutgX5RPreeZQ20h_wb21MkgdWAa3cqAVEV7vklaZ4GN7tXhlrrVCPAeOXlSPY1toftX8aOVx/s3840/PXL_20220603_192425541.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2160" height="981" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnX6N7cff1EqYfL8KhDCmry-Lq65RVCR4vwXdboYPeX-a3Ci7Xx0WS7YEsUNJ-FTnodTVNL92kLUwIjKvCs5v-YDTNe9sPWuBiKt2lqHjRNrEPBuGawNmQutgX5RPreeZQ20h_wb21MkgdWAa3cqAVEV7vklaZ4GN7tXhlrrVCPAeOXlSPY1toftX8aOVx/w551-h981/PXL_20220603_192425541.jpg" width="551" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>#5: Bring your own snacks. (I almost wrote snakes there. That might be a good tip too, but you'll have a hard time getting them on board, until you get real creative with your hiding places.)</p><p><br /></p><p>Say one night you get a sudden craving. M&M's! Any kind will do! Actually, any candy bar at all will work. But this is the same problem as the one above. You can't get snacks anywhere on board. Unless you want Rum Cakes, you are shuck out of luck. I suggest you plan accordingly. Seriously. I just wanted a candy bar. Why does the souvenir shop ONLY sell rum cakes?? Why? </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-yaTl31iFtLL7TopEQKLjxANsiGXO5QoAF55Ex2rg1zS9jPrKb4Clft7s8Q-rLZ43Y4U9iYiMkclQxr6_KOd-Qy3iyDiGYAld37MYv9D9FvgSTll2QIy4RjkBRUOz8n1eSdOwN2yzu5VVfoYviILnjE29AkBLG_PfhS6jqB155MNY9cK5bsdrYYFJ2Xi/s407/rum%20cakes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="407" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-yaTl31iFtLL7TopEQKLjxANsiGXO5QoAF55Ex2rg1zS9jPrKb4Clft7s8Q-rLZ43Y4U9iYiMkclQxr6_KOd-Qy3iyDiGYAld37MYv9D9FvgSTll2QIy4RjkBRUOz8n1eSdOwN2yzu5VVfoYviILnjE29AkBLG_PfhS6jqB155MNY9cK5bsdrYYFJ2Xi/w640-h592/rum%20cakes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Myth #3 - The dining room is always open. <div><br /><p></p><p>I might be different on other ships, but on Royal Caribbean that was not the case. My dad always says that his main complaint on his cruise was that they fed him too much. So I was just expected food being pushed at me from every side, all day long. But no. There was a buffet upstairs that was open with extended hours around meal times. But the food was really only so so. Standard cheap buffet food. The food in the formal dining room was fantastic, but the servings were rather small like you would expect in a super fancy restaurant and it was open with much more limited hours, and if you didn't make a reservation you might have to wait for a table for a while. </p><p><br /></p><p>There were several other restuarants, but half of them were not included with your cruise meal plan, which means you had to pay to eat there, just like you would in any restaurant. It was also rather hard to tell which restaurants were free, and which weren't, so we ususally just stuck to the ones we were sure about. And they were all only open around meal times. You could order room service too, but most of that food also cost extra. Fortunately there was a Ben and Jerrys on board. Yes, their food was not included with the cruise meal package, but the cruise had also kindly given us $100 credit to be spent on whatever we wanted onboard the boat. Richard used a bunch of it on Lobster one night (again, not something that was included in the free meals), but we had to spend the rest on something. Good thing I like Icecream so much.</p><p><br /><br /></p><p>B) - Take Cash. Or, maybe, don't.</p><p><br /></p><p>I meant to take cash, I really did. But what with the flight kerfuffle, we never stopped at the bank to get any. Which left us in Nassau Bahamas without any cash. It was the weekend, so there were no open banks, and I didn't even have a debit card to pull cash out of an ATM. Which meant no souvenirs, which was kind of sad, but also gave me an excellent excuse not to buy anything from any of the vendors that were pushing their wares at us. </p><p><br /></p><p>After hanging out on the beach for a while I would have liked to rent some four wheelers to explore the island, but it started pouring rain, which might have made four wheeling somewhat less exciting.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAcgihOhwGMwnw5Xzg6TfQxHvoYR_UDG1-8lV9ItoGSNgnVHp2dCW7DvmcMTSLP2GfdCvDlxvf6J9hYdcu4u7ALsTAWR-W_WbcJ_02ZNZEdO7nwxvBne4xdrRTye-P_1nXhWOJD0pFNtzTdHmjpNgckjTrzGO3UsNenH6dTmZrZS2l7WDxsKhUFFzH_sw/s3840/PXL_20220605_161712241.MP-EDIT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAcgihOhwGMwnw5Xzg6TfQxHvoYR_UDG1-8lV9ItoGSNgnVHp2dCW7DvmcMTSLP2GfdCvDlxvf6J9hYdcu4u7ALsTAWR-W_WbcJ_02ZNZEdO7nwxvBne4xdrRTye-P_1nXhWOJD0pFNtzTdHmjpNgckjTrzGO3UsNenH6dTmZrZS2l7WDxsKhUFFzH_sw/s16000/PXL_20220605_161712241.MP-EDIT.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We just ran around on foot and explored the town and got soaked, and found a woman in a shop who gave us some Bahaman coins, just for fun.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcuKTE02C1VPngWv8RgopwEkdaRn26VqGLqnM5pIIMoxk5t-7iUlBgoAIOnNwfZEhQK3S3ZObSFApJ0de_alPzuFxxlWS8zk6GGp7hESgkk0g63js5FSgb_o-YD2O9jKHaoqu54g3TiDFGtXhkTGQzAB0X7pEIv5CjJTGHv-7dbHqizlRpyFv_UaJaI5r/s2688/PXL_20220605_171714010-EDIT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2688" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcuKTE02C1VPngWv8RgopwEkdaRn26VqGLqnM5pIIMoxk5t-7iUlBgoAIOnNwfZEhQK3S3ZObSFApJ0de_alPzuFxxlWS8zk6GGp7hESgkk0g63js5FSgb_o-YD2O9jKHaoqu54g3TiDFGtXhkTGQzAB0X7pEIv5CjJTGHv-7dbHqizlRpyFv_UaJaI5r/s16000/PXL_20220605_171714010-EDIT.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>And it was awesome! And we didn't spend an arm and a leg! So who's laughing now?</p><p><br /></p><p>Well, there you have it. Every single lesson we learned while cruising, that I can think of at the moment. </p><p><br /></p><p>We tried escargot, which was, you know, <i>snails</i>.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_uH8genUuBc980WdsJ6-1nahC9SWSjCnxclmIjTtzMUxH4LrMfag3XMLXCzFwCV7euLW32CDTPZVuH5COfe1WC4lGPxFHxyYYt8M4Kc49IJQtq5-6iX46kJpFx_41Jv7egbUDhPHWb-c73tKRiIt-Wai0YaEfXIGgd3myMlA8clRXWv2oXQxoR27H2Zx/s2880/IMG_20220603_182255.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="1824" height="824" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_uH8genUuBc980WdsJ6-1nahC9SWSjCnxclmIjTtzMUxH4LrMfag3XMLXCzFwCV7euLW32CDTPZVuH5COfe1WC4lGPxFHxyYYt8M4Kc49IJQtq5-6iX46kJpFx_41Jv7egbUDhPHWb-c73tKRiIt-Wai0YaEfXIGgd3myMlA8clRXWv2oXQxoR27H2Zx/w524-h824/IMG_20220603_182255.jpg" width="524" /></a></div><br /><p>And didn't really mind being in an interior room, because no windows meant it was DARK, and morning sort of lost meaning. It was very restful.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5H5y0TOAa4CKqTzfFKKfHrkXThRL3J5n4duq_9P6c-qSuOpis7RfGPBCmc1dbQ7L3pMw9yLc5TI0Z7cMNay84qBEkvUmQNkMrzpWkyNRTrS2MoQpI0SqAifikO5kDqNbTRCGynnjBG9cGRJlrKAtRBTR5A9sAw783dn360CJji8I9ibeBI_VZJde-ukW/s3840/PXL_20220603_183652047-EDIT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5H5y0TOAa4CKqTzfFKKfHrkXThRL3J5n4duq_9P6c-qSuOpis7RfGPBCmc1dbQ7L3pMw9yLc5TI0Z7cMNay84qBEkvUmQNkMrzpWkyNRTrS2MoQpI0SqAifikO5kDqNbTRCGynnjBG9cGRJlrKAtRBTR5A9sAw783dn360CJji8I9ibeBI_VZJde-ukW/s16000/PXL_20220603_183652047-EDIT.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>All in all, we had a great time! I may have seen more half-naked women than anyone ever needs to see, but it just makes me all the more excited for our next cruise. To <i>Alaska</i>! Someday!</p><p><br /></p><p>This is the end.</p><p><br /></p></div>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-45802837498299552822023-08-25T01:20:00.014-06:002024-03-11T01:48:56.084-06:00Echoes of the Past by Ashley Packard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another Cover Design.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5MAHbBOYygd542GVnAt55vvH2p1rtxhNFApuDHS3x-XmnEN16Kf-2QBO6LiIzHNI2dt50ievaNmDYL04RzUNG9TFpowKa821FI9P5u0q0rZjbcxSREXI3ATBe7Nojw97M9xwV5x8LdLqY0_M5Fj7YdUQ1Yb_np7u3OAvOAEGuMVA0z_0m5OTXovmtMpV/s934/10.6.23%20-%20Echoes%20mockup.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="934" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5MAHbBOYygd542GVnAt55vvH2p1rtxhNFApuDHS3x-XmnEN16Kf-2QBO6LiIzHNI2dt50ievaNmDYL04RzUNG9TFpowKa821FI9P5u0q0rZjbcxSREXI3ATBe7Nojw97M9xwV5x8LdLqY0_M5Fj7YdUQ1Yb_np7u3OAvOAEGuMVA0z_0m5OTXovmtMpV/s320/10.6.23%20-%20Echoes%20mockup.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Anna Wilson</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> is faced with the prospect of starting her first job out of university. She worked hard for this coveted position not for the prestige, but because it fit her life plan, would make her parents proud, and most importantly, the location was close to her grandmother, her only remaining family.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Accepting this job was a seal of fate according to Anna's grandmother, who grappled with the guilt that Anna planned her life around her.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">After graduating from university, Anna's world gets turned upside down when she receives the devastating news her grandmother passed away, leaving behind an unexpected inheritance, a chest full of old postcards, and tickets for a trip her grandmother planned leaving in a few weeks.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Echoes-Past-Ashley-Packard-ebook/dp/B0CJF2PWL7" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE</a></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIM2zK0Cq3CSbi8vxkp0P87eiUcVsL4b9KFrxgzLXbjZC9KOC4EnlkpObSTlecrxzoJbqE5FetGo6MXYMRDAv7E3M-pYc1qOulxbzJNvYwEPZHWFkXK1-PwcQD4pJrdQyUm37q9NP0PL_AybtTL3U2Xtq1fBwRppMOPorML0QthWUWO2mbTmWk5UE1fVGX/s6568/EchoesFINAL%20with%20Title.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6568" data-original-width="4450" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIM2zK0Cq3CSbi8vxkp0P87eiUcVsL4b9KFrxgzLXbjZC9KOC4EnlkpObSTlecrxzoJbqE5FetGo6MXYMRDAv7E3M-pYc1qOulxbzJNvYwEPZHWFkXK1-PwcQD4pJrdQyUm37q9NP0PL_AybtTL3U2Xtq1fBwRppMOPorML0QthWUWO2mbTmWk5UE1fVGX/w434-h640/EchoesFINAL%20with%20Title.png" width="434" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-28542926476261034022023-07-11T23:06:00.008-06:002024-03-11T01:04:33.821-06:00The Dissection and Reassembly of Cohen Hoard by Elesa Hagberg<p> The Splinter Press team agonized and debated for a very long time, but the cover for <i>The Dissection and Reassembly of Cohen Hoard</i> has finally been chosen! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDH0L8owQJODAWhql4Pu5LmbVis9ZnRhP5uMFwtx8Pq99AQJOJ_tJrZM33BcePXRfAsq5E6D-4LWTbK0jeq7zVWvQoxx1M25W7G7uKB63nificCH5JCn8nIuxZMqoNwze94buoxkBMmsnhU3rAgGeIxY1gGVolnS9LwXRj1ePsAdDA2uup4tIvWyVUaa2/s903/10.6.23%20Cohen%20cover%20mockup.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="903" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDH0L8owQJODAWhql4Pu5LmbVis9ZnRhP5uMFwtx8Pq99AQJOJ_tJrZM33BcePXRfAsq5E6D-4LWTbK0jeq7zVWvQoxx1M25W7G7uKB63nificCH5JCn8nIuxZMqoNwze94buoxkBMmsnhU3rAgGeIxY1gGVolnS9LwXRj1ePsAdDA2uup4tIvWyVUaa2/s320/10.6.23%20Cohen%20cover%20mockup.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">I designed several covers, (SO MANY), and Faralee designed several covers, but in the end it was decided that this cover I designed made the right promises and best communicated the genre. Phew!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cohen+hoard&i=stripbooks&crid=3VX3CQUW7ZDLC&sprefix=cohen+hoard%2Cstripbooks%2C132&ref=nb_sb_noss_1" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE</a></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFgBa91rHYzNfgZQSYqQCVyHKnLd4w6JhWLR-2A1l0Ns2_6O4rwuTVyjTv5ITWbY2NCeidrNccc7KhizNDeBEGWEHovICEHB1SS-hN2fNDiTKhjTZnzQrJlBxhzVhClHNSzUijdcRZbHBfIY07RREdau6SyKMJXW-7w-Y6FABhXPUalKR056UM86HBNmQ/s9697/8.20.23%20-%20Cohen%20Cover,%20FRONT%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="9697" data-original-width="6354" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFgBa91rHYzNfgZQSYqQCVyHKnLd4w6JhWLR-2A1l0Ns2_6O4rwuTVyjTv5ITWbY2NCeidrNccc7KhizNDeBEGWEHovICEHB1SS-hN2fNDiTKhjTZnzQrJlBxhzVhClHNSzUijdcRZbHBfIY07RREdau6SyKMJXW-7w-Y6FABhXPUalKR056UM86HBNmQ/w421-h640/8.20.23%20-%20Cohen%20Cover,%20FRONT%20.jpg" width="421" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqDc0H0A8QQAsGZi6FMzBeBNod-1OSTVvCRkCEMdH0TC7COrBCqpnaVYqb3OWXYsUztNeZZLx8KhAxwsQ-t_624I3-4zkuVBMEFeIONybO3BpIp-3QFfMTWHe-HpLXn74OJVs1CdxxezTs-jyFM9YAIfh4XMFzV786VyZaS_cnlPkOPwo_K0xT7y7GVDQH" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqDc0H0A8QQAsGZi6FMzBeBNod-1OSTVvCRkCEMdH0TC7COrBCqpnaVYqb3OWXYsUztNeZZLx8KhAxwsQ-t_624I3-4zkuVBMEFeIONybO3BpIp-3QFfMTWHe-HpLXn74OJVs1CdxxezTs-jyFM9YAIfh4XMFzV786VyZaS_cnlPkOPwo_K0xT7y7GVDQH=s16000" /></a></div><br />And there was much rejoicing.<p></p>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-81252573805330829622023-06-10T18:47:00.003-06:002023-07-11T20:04:47.345-06:00I Am An Author<p> Folks, it is official. My debut novel, The Dissection & Reassembly of Cohen Hoard, will be released on September 15th, 2023. </p><p>If you like specuative fiction about nerdy guys going on adventures involving dissembodied limbs, this is the book for you!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPe3PmDssT08XyPHSD4hu4LByRgfsrHogLOc8tIBNFQWuCje-NRqLEJmaKQn4LEJgN8wIaiVJCdFT7Uei0TiXvE6ovYjcSR-Ovbm14ZM13qSqhieydWLOaNB-oGm9qST77Rupec729lvHMuPYfyw74FF0qmL89MyBoFHS87IA53TDrwV4sp3BQaKofw/s4032/PXL_20230609_003954362-EDIT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcPe3PmDssT08XyPHSD4hu4LByRgfsrHogLOc8tIBNFQWuCje-NRqLEJmaKQn4LEJgN8wIaiVJCdFT7Uei0TiXvE6ovYjcSR-Ovbm14ZM13qSqhieydWLOaNB-oGm9qST77Rupec729lvHMuPYfyw74FF0qmL89MyBoFHS87IA53TDrwV4sp3BQaKofw/s16000/PXL_20230609_003954362-EDIT.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Lindy likes to help by sitting on my keyboard while I type. She likes to pretend that SHE wrote this book. But it was me. Promise.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkuAK9H1at-lCXXHdmPyFwMwN89M-q7oJLKKqaPc8YLcarPeQJvmTqgkbpu7R0wZHNDN-OeLihEuQvrwqs_gmb_BdRffMFF6jnN6n-Xwi1yzHwKGY3mAB9nkrRMqv2r56pSq7S395uUFIlpZqgSWRpfsAax-nVJ1ykzBg7KSZJcfhEjvBat6GO9xUWQ/s4032/PXL_20230609_003921548.MP-EDIT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkuAK9H1at-lCXXHdmPyFwMwN89M-q7oJLKKqaPc8YLcarPeQJvmTqgkbpu7R0wZHNDN-OeLihEuQvrwqs_gmb_BdRffMFF6jnN6n-Xwi1yzHwKGY3mAB9nkrRMqv2r56pSq7S395uUFIlpZqgSWRpfsAax-nVJ1ykzBg7KSZJcfhEjvBat6GO9xUWQ/s16000/PXL_20230609_003921548.MP-EDIT.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-56981444249176406842023-05-30T01:04:00.026-06:002024-03-11T01:44:11.555-06:00The Plot by Theresa Flannery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another book cover I designed! The Author is working through revisions, but it should be available on kindle soon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGDnZalFSt4L39CxaB03yMQrsRU1k6oDkEAoXEKSai0S8Egj77m9CvHdduv_VKM4qw9bgTjZW613DqNEtuVhraVpKPskG9bQcGuK0fcZYfKxaGhOx79uZ61DkAvl-zhPkPVTwzRL5rLbye7R2gozicYbCLaU3ym_FKMsghsZSx1cBLhLr_QMw_c7EZi5b/s945/10.6.23%20-%20The%20plot%20mockup,%20square.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="945" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGDnZalFSt4L39CxaB03yMQrsRU1k6oDkEAoXEKSai0S8Egj77m9CvHdduv_VKM4qw9bgTjZW613DqNEtuVhraVpKPskG9bQcGuK0fcZYfKxaGhOx79uZ61DkAvl-zhPkPVTwzRL5rLbye7R2gozicYbCLaU3ym_FKMsghsZSx1cBLhLr_QMw_c7EZi5b/s320/10.6.23%20-%20The%20plot%20mockup,%20square.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Being framed for her family's murder is only the first problem Emily has to face. The second is that the real killers recruit those they can't kill, and Emily evades their attempts at every turn. With an ex-bounty hunter and the FBI as her only allies, Emily's whole focus is taking down the Cabal before they get a chance to take her down.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Jim loved being a bounty hunter, but he's only got one more case before they close their doors. As soon as he sees Emily's picture, he knows he's in trouble. She's everything he needs in his life, and despite trying to push him away at every turn, she needs him if she wants to survive.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfVeFCeSIHpntAeBnm2xki97sRhRhXIQID3KKVPglx0fYm1Rls0nZYnTp100GGCBUh3Q_Ahidnwt-9n32Sctl8cYHuM3WyY2OrYehUos-3CAFej6wrwCiuC7z1xVTGl2Spp69sjlWWO_N6xBGB89Yagcam9B2HCljRUXJNKlRFEH7yYU6L1A4R6K8EdP5/s1344/The%20Plot%20Cover%20FINAL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="896" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfVeFCeSIHpntAeBnm2xki97sRhRhXIQID3KKVPglx0fYm1Rls0nZYnTp100GGCBUh3Q_Ahidnwt-9n32Sctl8cYHuM3WyY2OrYehUos-3CAFej6wrwCiuC7z1xVTGl2Spp69sjlWWO_N6xBGB89Yagcam9B2HCljRUXJNKlRFEH7yYU6L1A4R6K8EdP5/w426-h640/The%20Plot%20Cover%20FINAL.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p></p>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-42001210573775464592023-04-30T00:31:00.002-06:002024-03-11T09:47:25.997-06:00Mere Mortal by AJ Stevens<p style="text-align: center;">I designed this book cover!</p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiL8olEdqlsnsyFR_dWg9vf6joUnKlBHrmMYfFEaTTynLIST_HpnVjzjXUQjZrnB0oo0zEs7vjz2mW-Y1O_7pj_RrDMEic5LoWbDR8ged2ntD0RxDi1OPdAma0mwVVlQHINaIJ-QVzwKLmUK2mo1Qu7l8D0-5m8lE3Y95qs90sn4Tw6phi89wy-m4cnwc/s900/10.6.23%20-%20mere%20Mortal%20mockup.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiL8olEdqlsnsyFR_dWg9vf6joUnKlBHrmMYfFEaTTynLIST_HpnVjzjXUQjZrnB0oo0zEs7vjz2mW-Y1O_7pj_RrDMEic5LoWbDR8ged2ntD0RxDi1OPdAma0mwVVlQHINaIJ-QVzwKLmUK2mo1Qu7l8D0-5m8lE3Y95qs90sn4Tw6phi89wy-m4cnwc/s320/10.6.23%20-%20mere%20Mortal%20mockup.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Mila will do whatever it takes to save her sister, even walk straight into the one place she should never go: the Immortal City. The problem? She only has one life, and the Immortals will do anything to take it from her. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mere-Mortal-Dystopian-Science-Fiction/dp/1960108018/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE!</a></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7x-MNJaEX9J92sEUAPm89cy8wOVBKl62oAAMqgpCLvR5LkCZNb0zui1Ecv4Bf8GgKNdz6D8Xf_otgQfp1ub_Tpxw-zNMRJCnpHzsLl-PPtllqYYRzRPl5PwF8LtJdvJLv93rd2h_xw39lODqYY4JsDPJK_zOclGytro6iUvK-9J7rphv-LxfVO8I2Q_v/s4800/Mere%20Mortal%20ebook%20Cover%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4800" data-original-width="3000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7x-MNJaEX9J92sEUAPm89cy8wOVBKl62oAAMqgpCLvR5LkCZNb0zui1Ecv4Bf8GgKNdz6D8Xf_otgQfp1ub_Tpxw-zNMRJCnpHzsLl-PPtllqYYRzRPl5PwF8LtJdvJLv93rd2h_xw39lODqYY4JsDPJK_zOclGytro6iUvK-9J7rphv-LxfVO8I2Q_v/w400-h640/Mere%20Mortal%20ebook%20Cover%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-86735886203229582632022-08-31T13:44:00.000-06:002022-08-31T13:44:10.898-06:00Phone BloggingPhone blogging (sometimes called phlogging (by me, just now)) has never really been a thing because it's too hard to do. But it would be so much better for me. I spend too much time sitting in front of my computer already. Blogging would be the perfect thing to do when I have down time and nothing but a phone. So it's time for me to figure out how to make it work.<div>TEST!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5ifywZx9t4Q/Yw-6CWOKZJI/AAAAAAABX6Q/apv0lPS-KUoop5EPTamKqA68-MlKY6IvQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1661975047241365-0.png" width="400">
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</div><br></div>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-39301537356916611672021-12-24T15:59:00.006-07:002022-01-20T09:53:13.090-07:00Scary Things I found at the Antique Store - Christmas Edition<p> Welcome to the Christmas edition of "Scary Things I found at the Antique Store"!</p><p><br /></p><p>Christmas is almost here, so let's dive right in!</p><p><br /></p><p>My kids are always asking me to get an Elf on the Shelf. That is never gonna happen, but I did tell them I'd buy them this:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCH09frykUysBdZYZRxd6frtv__LNVT434lvnvj89T3R7NdCyWvaKP8ObTI2QfFi7q83YyshKueWAvTaD_xIO3gEeLJFKvLlLR9RplFqFFSRPLkNuCJbW1UV9PcgcS9yjYOzf7rsXCcVo-4QfNltbrIyYj5lZeyX_LWPq4FoeEGD4qIfmA2LORZzN2zQ=s3717" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3717" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCH09frykUysBdZYZRxd6frtv__LNVT434lvnvj89T3R7NdCyWvaKP8ObTI2QfFi7q83YyshKueWAvTaD_xIO3gEeLJFKvLlLR9RplFqFFSRPLkNuCJbW1UV9PcgcS9yjYOzf7rsXCcVo-4QfNltbrIyYj5lZeyX_LWPq4FoeEGD4qIfmA2LORZzN2zQ=s16000" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>That's the kind of elf that crawls in through your ear and pours tar in your soul. Maybe with that sly little face watching them everywhere they go they will finally be inspired to stop fighting with each other.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The best way of spreading Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. So why does this choir look so terrified?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTcR1vvu5Y7-9P8_QYRdT4W5fSHd0yxlFdOEfRFawaH52aIgXrMO8LPNEQIscjRrTItSTw7OHfNaHC5jp1nb6ryATDn4Vl4Pe9puLFLmLS-oXXQ5rGko6RAEy_4wzTKKwcO11OHjUsSt1MsEuo-pJkjGgvuK-IJLSG7W5K4iga5sIVKVSvvTvjFQLmlQ=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiTcR1vvu5Y7-9P8_QYRdT4W5fSHd0yxlFdOEfRFawaH52aIgXrMO8LPNEQIscjRrTItSTw7OHfNaHC5jp1nb6ryATDn4Vl4Pe9puLFLmLS-oXXQ5rGko6RAEy_4wzTKKwcO11OHjUsSt1MsEuo-pJkjGgvuK-IJLSG7W5K4iga5sIVKVSvvTvjFQLmlQ=s16000" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>What's that? You say it's the nutcrackers? Ugh, you guys are such babies. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Wait . . . what in the name of sunflowers is this?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhww38vcTekY-K1X1VjXPjBJRk6OKkladN5gvI0GMLa1ijpq6FQk6Wf0BmRrpyaZCeLd4wVNk5rap1xfjwJOI4x_yKXEX_it_Vh55ihvdTK9bGMqmYfLHoDeKKYvH_cnYpsQ5Ff-iwDxhmIlBlfFUtFkIIUaT3pi1KJoP7oawBw8AGZaPyIJYMXtJm2Cw=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhww38vcTekY-K1X1VjXPjBJRk6OKkladN5gvI0GMLa1ijpq6FQk6Wf0BmRrpyaZCeLd4wVNk5rap1xfjwJOI4x_yKXEX_it_Vh55ihvdTK9bGMqmYfLHoDeKKYvH_cnYpsQ5Ff-iwDxhmIlBlfFUtFkIIUaT3pi1KJoP7oawBw8AGZaPyIJYMXtJm2Cw=s16000" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Gah! Is it a <i>CLOWN</i>? I guess there is a reason that people are more of afraid of clowns than they are of terrorist. THAT is how you strike terror into people's hearts, right there.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Hey, look! It's a Jack-In-the Box!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2ouXgnYnsqHYghjoYgV6Su1_NVOZYgEadUiU4apcv3sN1Jg-DaXnvrv3_If_OuRoCZtSfy0YWXHAcl2Gs9md_BqxJtVAO0O2cQjXuHGmSxHrjfJAWMjy65HYmNFl9vrjlAvltC7JE-3En2SfGPZ7S0MY9ygxVytSFuSugh3pSWTh16IAVDJieenimrA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2ouXgnYnsqHYghjoYgV6Su1_NVOZYgEadUiU4apcv3sN1Jg-DaXnvrv3_If_OuRoCZtSfy0YWXHAcl2Gs9md_BqxJtVAO0O2cQjXuHGmSxHrjfJAWMjy65HYmNFl9vrjlAvltC7JE-3En2SfGPZ7S0MY9ygxVytSFuSugh3pSWTh16IAVDJieenimrA=s16000" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Or . . . Package Girl?? Um, I don't . . .</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>How about some Santas? </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFza2mxpFrXR5nqa6s7Mce0CYAB3B_BEDxSCI6-ZKvsORGOsOKwKhJk-0o4-wLIBdlaqq5NRc90yz1CagS94oMWKIi-Ce97mPTHgCy-afFub5eNmSvRF772vaCBSDKP54PTubHmbsxsFp4mtO35GLGVz_UH8LFAXWv0jjuY--td0-EqIOyuljxR0TMJg=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFza2mxpFrXR5nqa6s7Mce0CYAB3B_BEDxSCI6-ZKvsORGOsOKwKhJk-0o4-wLIBdlaqq5NRc90yz1CagS94oMWKIi-Ce97mPTHgCy-afFub5eNmSvRF772vaCBSDKP54PTubHmbsxsFp4mtO35GLGVz_UH8LFAXWv0jjuY--td0-EqIOyuljxR0TMJg=s16000" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>How would you like to run into him and the weird mound of hair he is carrying in a dark alley upon a Christmas Eve?</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Or perhaps this guy:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4KqXs6LTNzyp4MpD7LBY2DW-VdeShlYOUKdaDwP7VOBY8EOvUbAmYz7HEFRdZtsw2IW7ypphpURKzkF4YvIrQWgM_Zo5gCa-qiP9DJZj5pHlGk0Gfd-i19a68CSdImEHDkranpmifcrIOyGGZQ0tk3r6rCChNiceGfi-CJ0KxigqiXzxC78nHai_qfg=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4KqXs6LTNzyp4MpD7LBY2DW-VdeShlYOUKdaDwP7VOBY8EOvUbAmYz7HEFRdZtsw2IW7ypphpURKzkF4YvIrQWgM_Zo5gCa-qiP9DJZj5pHlGk0Gfd-i19a68CSdImEHDkranpmifcrIOyGGZQ0tk3r6rCChNiceGfi-CJ0KxigqiXzxC78nHai_qfg=s16000" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>"Me and my Taffy Eyebrows see you when you're sleeping."</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Oh, this one's kind of cute:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4zkom5eXFlj-m9diJ3ngc-ofxrY7bM51NvAeNK1OSFj9ZjLvn_Hv14Ca4VaaQcjxksjhk_rcNIdad4hzLHNghG3lKh_mMBVURhp9Q8gxfVK-oo8o4b8We0eXsiixUfe74NbomrXX4cvvJepJeKBR8zEoU9_c7wtxPWMgTgul0ndPYRew5anF-TK4UkA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4zkom5eXFlj-m9diJ3ngc-ofxrY7bM51NvAeNK1OSFj9ZjLvn_Hv14Ca4VaaQcjxksjhk_rcNIdad4hzLHNghG3lKh_mMBVURhp9Q8gxfVK-oo8o4b8We0eXsiixUfe74NbomrXX4cvvJepJeKBR8zEoU9_c7wtxPWMgTgul0ndPYRew5anF-TK4UkA=s16000" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Though apparently those trees are growing right out of his belly.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7JivCxA-VXYgmGLOH4-qodHcXuCJQmIWuclKuY9MLGh43-EmMNsl144Qxbx7AaYyLM_NjqWs7HzY6KE-ribckv3cssie-BOUHL5TbxtQKzqWim5EFlSXmlt2qfk9yTmmZALArom79l-P_8zRXuhNsE_sIYoVs9_LrCOCdDy2sU2phiDG9wENoU_FByA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7JivCxA-VXYgmGLOH4-qodHcXuCJQmIWuclKuY9MLGh43-EmMNsl144Qxbx7AaYyLM_NjqWs7HzY6KE-ribckv3cssie-BOUHL5TbxtQKzqWim5EFlSXmlt2qfk9yTmmZALArom79l-P_8zRXuhNsE_sIYoVs9_LrCOCdDy2sU2phiDG9wENoU_FByA=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXq9R1090R3zEaWFsnw-8rEK42GXOdu_szv0bJ0ZWC-Tv2Sspk4B2YZt1r7CL61kylv8UQBtu2XSOwPx3PkG_R9kSikXfQwqi5c7lWPhgQmchFtDWLJMQ9bhmFj-VVxWTOgPQkNNKhEzf6K4cS3pqjg7ehY-T7s6ripFUfD6Iz0qrqA6Ouj4FCmq04FA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXq9R1090R3zEaWFsnw-8rEK42GXOdu_szv0bJ0ZWC-Tv2Sspk4B2YZt1r7CL61kylv8UQBtu2XSOwPx3PkG_R9kSikXfQwqi5c7lWPhgQmchFtDWLJMQ9bhmFj-VVxWTOgPQkNNKhEzf6K4cS3pqjg7ehY-T7s6ripFUfD6Iz0qrqA6Ouj4FCmq04FA=s16000" /></a></div></div><p><br /></p><p>No wonder he looks so uncomfortable.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimCWLqTPL7r1pvhXSDqyOHzYdIugombPjdaAHgSI5VDmjta1pGQFvIXKuacqwxbizNPdvW34efaKXKlMFaNXwaIl3K1uhHl-tqMnldGbp_hddJ7Ahs9mMRjARrG6VaAE-Cv-s60XJgnd1tgBejO71mnthqpEqGwWaicJkPjxZEQNPkSm0N0ckSctf-BA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimCWLqTPL7r1pvhXSDqyOHzYdIugombPjdaAHgSI5VDmjta1pGQFvIXKuacqwxbizNPdvW34efaKXKlMFaNXwaIl3K1uhHl-tqMnldGbp_hddJ7Ahs9mMRjARrG6VaAE-Cv-s60XJgnd1tgBejO71mnthqpEqGwWaicJkPjxZEQNPkSm0N0ckSctf-BA=s16000" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>And this one's just mad. "Those dang reindeer keep eating all my cookies!"</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6MaeNUwhnfXDD-BT_WFUOwCrVO_thGzHUence5_M97jx2b8MdeehpN6mWrdrI7idfGekpQzzaWGIzUrO8lAQ2TyRZkUfQ4W9gtR8JpooOsYxJA-onaiyXTTqZqmbpgAU0dpkJC3CjG9GFJoODXDOpZTkqshe6jhBsVZUFSkQX28Ae8pqRh2vuELlJJw=s3423" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3423" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6MaeNUwhnfXDD-BT_WFUOwCrVO_thGzHUence5_M97jx2b8MdeehpN6mWrdrI7idfGekpQzzaWGIzUrO8lAQ2TyRZkUfQ4W9gtR8JpooOsYxJA-onaiyXTTqZqmbpgAU0dpkJC3CjG9GFJoODXDOpZTkqshe6jhBsVZUFSkQX28Ae8pqRh2vuELlJJw=s16000" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><p>I guess we'll just wrap things up with a family friendly vintage Christmas Card. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUg4a8cdMFVIMZ5e2eCzUX-HoM0EXO_Pyv5iUtkIfajR502db_s8V0tfFRUPJAkto5cNXAaMFPLytMgve01pLyccVQ34DNwehLvutO4fRP3Fvd0_lPhgMW_pNmHyiHbftc3RE-DXBB3Dh7iebq9T7_-eUnW0aOSM63ajuFXgC5ufqoi-4gn8tQ3M2UNw=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUg4a8cdMFVIMZ5e2eCzUX-HoM0EXO_Pyv5iUtkIfajR502db_s8V0tfFRUPJAkto5cNXAaMFPLytMgve01pLyccVQ34DNwehLvutO4fRP3Fvd0_lPhgMW_pNmHyiHbftc3RE-DXBB3Dh7iebq9T7_-eUnW0aOSM63ajuFXgC5ufqoi-4gn8tQ3M2UNw=s16000" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I bet he said, "Good Girls have noses." <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Let's open it up and see:</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2Wyf_ouOfEHFi9OIlqtZ6h1VL9kyzh7sBd7Oc2G93RjqFZDJCWHisVMfUv_mFARAFhsUYH31J5HiT-0jVDdCulU7WrRJT83i8PAYnHeSWCTNv0qf788Xp1119ZITkUa93Uil8wVpuaAo28qa1Wcc1wI_8dw9VJbMNvjqklFpfeeyrFEwqX76lb7PWUA=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2Wyf_ouOfEHFi9OIlqtZ6h1VL9kyzh7sBd7Oc2G93RjqFZDJCWHisVMfUv_mFARAFhsUYH31J5HiT-0jVDdCulU7WrRJT83i8PAYnHeSWCTNv0qf788Xp1119ZITkUa93Uil8wVpuaAo28qa1Wcc1wI_8dw9VJbMNvjqklFpfeeyrFEwqX76lb7PWUA=s16000" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Wow, real classy Santa. As usual.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>On that note, we bid you adieu? I don't know why I put a question mark there, but I'm leaving it. Merry Christmas!!</p></div>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-133163999583124342021-11-15T17:12:00.013-07:002021-11-20T18:04:25.501-07:00Geometric Black Wall Treatment in the Master Bedroom<p> Here! See some pictures of my room! Quick before the clutter explodes all over the place again!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eWDL16hqYBM/YZRGYPJdC9I/AAAAAAAA6PU/eBpO92wYI80JxWbu0RM_R32fGAhBuLgQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PXL_20201114_172325396.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eWDL16hqYBM/YZRGYPJdC9I/AAAAAAAA6PU/eBpO92wYI80JxWbu0RM_R32fGAhBuLgQwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/PXL_20201114_172325396.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In case you can't tell, what you see in the above picture is a geometric black wall treatment in the Master Bedroom. We designed the room with this little recess for the bed to sit in specifically so we could have a cool wall treatment. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is the wall before: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qk5jdGvn7Zg/YZRGmFcVjrI/AAAAAAAA6PY/b6MWBevc-5MLwYV76z1jftTU2mC59oNbACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20190226_105846.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qk5jdGvn7Zg/YZRGmFcVjrI/AAAAAAAA6PY/b6MWBevc-5MLwYV76z1jftTU2mC59oNbACLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20190226_105846.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ah, Special.<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I drew up several designs, and this was our favorite.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0qR3AimBcrU/YZRGtByGvKI/AAAAAAAA6Pg/E6VLpkMXbRIwOhGQ0JB9M-bXFHgF0Gu3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20190706_114400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0qR3AimBcrU/YZRGtByGvKI/AAAAAAAA6Pg/E6VLpkMXbRIwOhGQ0JB9M-bXFHgF0Gu3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20190706_114400.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can tell, because I drew a heart in the corner. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then I painted the wall black. I'm pretty sure this was black paint I bought to paint the shelves in our library, but ended up not liking it. I still wish this was more of a matte finish, but we all have our crosses to bear.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v0ipFKpZS4M/YZRG_qfmhLI/AAAAAAAA6Ps/qdibGIw_ZeARz7MK7Kbx1vmwoAGOJ6ZTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20190706_114418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v0ipFKpZS4M/YZRG_qfmhLI/AAAAAAAA6Ps/qdibGIw_ZeARz7MK7Kbx1vmwoAGOJ6ZTQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/20190706_114418.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With the wall painted and a stack of 1.5" mdf trim, I was ready to go. Theoretically I should have been able to take measurements and cut the angle perfectly, but I have never had that happen in real life. Pretty much every angle I adjusted it with a hundred tiny cuts until I got it perfect, and then cut the straight edge to length. I got tired of running up and down the stairs after a while and just brought the miter saw into my bedroom. I figured all the dust would be worth it. I have no regrets. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then there are shelves full of books and Legos. All the things a married couple needs.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u42XgYLJh_8/YZRHJkYU5zI/AAAAAAAA6Pw/6POA0ZQKDUU1hemcf3USGgFNS3Ltd2elgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PXL_20201114_171946457.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u42XgYLJh_8/YZRHJkYU5zI/AAAAAAAA6Pw/6POA0ZQKDUU1hemcf3USGgFNS3Ltd2elgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/PXL_20201114_171946457.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T05KYWZ7WEo/YZRHx0e98fI/AAAAAAAA6QE/MpXQECEOov8Z0jtc1vCtC7JQS2k8GofIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PXL_20201114_172141073.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T05KYWZ7WEo/YZRHx0e98fI/AAAAAAAA6QE/MpXQECEOov8Z0jtc1vCtC7JQS2k8GofIwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/PXL_20201114_172141073.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The art on the wall below came from <a href="https://vintagerevivals.com/bathroom-reveal-paint-by-numbers-wall-mural/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Its a paint by number Mandy from Vintage Revivals had designed to paint on her daughters wall. I just painted it on a big ol' canvas instead. I kind of wish I had done the whole wall, but maybe there is enough going on in here with the black wall treatment behind the bed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ec2ZO-ieVvs/YZRHUVmIDNI/AAAAAAAA6P4/494vPSSHWmsD_pqKiO9x-gCJXAnH80uugCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PXL_20201114_172343415.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ec2ZO-ieVvs/YZRHUVmIDNI/AAAAAAAA6P4/494vPSSHWmsD_pqKiO9x-gCJXAnH80uugCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/PXL_20201114_172343415.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, there you have it. A black wall treatment in the master bedroom. Are you edified? Enlightened? Enriched? Enraged? I can't take responsibility for all your emotions, so get a handle on yourself.</div></div>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-72690507312708243822021-10-07T17:51:00.005-06:002021-11-16T16:57:47.013-07:00The Last Smoothie Recipe You Will Ever Need<p> This is it! The last Smoothie Recipe you will ever need! Well, unless you want a chocolate smoothie, or an Orange Julius, yum, or maybe a PB&J smoothie, which is one of my favorites. So let me alter my title a little to say "The Last Smoothie Recipe You Will Ever Need From Me". probably.</p><p>Here's a picture!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jo7e1LIOc14/YZRFNEFjTCI/AAAAAAAA6PI/vKsop3xKQ00QeQ36wxAGzpvDTZZxbPxuACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_3395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jo7e1LIOc14/YZRFNEFjTCI/AAAAAAAA6PI/vKsop3xKQ00QeQ36wxAGzpvDTZZxbPxuACLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/IMG_3395.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><p>I always start with a frozen banana, a frozen plum (because we have a plum tree, so this is just what I have on hand) and a handful of baby spinach. Then I add two more fruits. In the picture above I used a pear and a handful of mixed berries. Anything is good. Peaches, strawberries, raspberries (which have more fiber per cup than any other fruit), mango, pineapple, whatever. You don't need me to think of fruits for you. I tried Kiwi, and that was good too, but I always wonder, does Kiwi hurt <i>everyone </i>when they eat it, or am I mildly allergic?</p><p><br /></p><p>Apples are good too, but I recommend only using half an apple, unless you really enjoy chewing your smoothies. I also find that it tastes best if at least one of the fruits is fresh. I often make it with everything frozen except the spinach because that's all I've got, but then I have to add more water to make it thin enough to drink, and the flavor just isn't as rich. Obviously.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xaQKxDbtQcQ/YZRFND8NWiI/AAAAAAAA6PE/zKomtNZtqQwwOWvFOCDiqOS7eCFjrhZFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PXL_20211006_200617370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xaQKxDbtQcQ/YZRFND8NWiI/AAAAAAAA6PE/zKomtNZtqQwwOWvFOCDiqOS7eCFjrhZFwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/PXL_20211006_200617370.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I also add Chia Seeds and Flaxseed Meal because their packaging says that they are really good for you. And I sweeten it using Monk Fruit. If you know that Monk Fruit is going to kill me, will you let me know, cuz honestly, I don't even know what it is. Oh, and a scoop of protein powder. But don't add it until the very, very end, because if you blend it too long, it poofs everything up in a way that ceases to be delicious. And that's it. It varies depending on the fruit you use, of course, but it general, they are about 500 calories. Good for you, and stuffed with enough food to tide you over till dinner. </p><p><br /></p><p>5 servings of fruits/veggies a day = Check!</p><p><br /></p><p>Bowels ready to empty themselves at a moments notice = Double Check!</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">ULTIMATE SMOOTHIE RECIPE </span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>1 handful Baby Spinach</li><li>1 frozen Banana</li><li>1 froze Plum</li><li>2 other fruits of your choice</li><li>1 to 1 1/2 cup water</li><li>1 Tbsp Chia Seeds</li><li>1 Tbsp Flaxseed Meal</li><li>2 Tbsp Monk Fruit</li><li>1 scoop Protein Powder (don't add it until the end!)</li></ul><div>Blend it, drink it, love it. Or don't. I'm not the boss of you. Bye.</div><p></p>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-81560243281055795982021-10-04T13:07:00.018-06:002021-11-16T08:37:06.008-07:00A Trip to the Uintah Basin<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVHdAKnXOjg/YVtRmf3kghI/AAAAAAAA2yU/itQJEpiIvRY-7cFK2Bx0PQwO1NOzqGRRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/PXL_20210925_201436742%2B%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1445" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVHdAKnXOjg/YVtRmf3kghI/AAAAAAAA2yU/itQJEpiIvRY-7cFK2Bx0PQwO1NOzqGRRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/PXL_20210925_201436742%2B%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thursday </h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our plan was to leave Thursday right after school, but because of surprise optomitrist appointments, and forgotten about Parent Teach Conferences, it was 6:00 pm before we left home. We'd hoped to eat in Vernal when we got there, but as it was we stopped at Carl's Jr. on our way out of town. Just like campers of old. At 9:00 pm we were almost to Vernal, but we were ready to stop for the night. Richard reached out with his inner camper's sense and turned off at some random road and found a place to pull over. We put the jacks under the camper and just like that we were ready to hit the hay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Course the kids weren't ready to fall asleep just yet, so I read out loud to them a bit from "Dune" and they were out in minutes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MWBYwh1LhEU/YVtv74HlOeI/AAAAAAAA2zk/b64QmwHzjactmpA3K17UjUxG-0OdrXkYwCPcBGAsYHg/s3714/IMG_20200617_102302.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3714" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MWBYwh1LhEU/YVtv74HlOeI/AAAAAAAA2zk/b64QmwHzjactmpA3K17UjUxG-0OdrXkYwCPcBGAsYHg/w521-h640/IMG_20200617_102302.jpg" width="521" /></a></div><br /><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">FRIDAY </h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The campsite Richard parked us in turned out to be kind of perfect. The boys explored the nearby hills while I cleaned up and Richard made pancakes.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ioRliTmrHXg/YVtxTtyvgeI/AAAAAAAA2zs/OJS1xVbox74wefQr0uSKzLg1b-2JkvIgACPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210924_134657293.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ioRliTmrHXg/YVtxTtyvgeI/AAAAAAAA2zs/OJS1xVbox74wefQr0uSKzLg1b-2JkvIgACPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210924_134657293.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UFQjrDWeZOk/YVtxThVQC2I/AAAAAAAA2zs/O8VUeXAAxTsKsTIEgvRFTHeu5BrRqZ0OQCPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210924_134942361.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UFQjrDWeZOk/YVtxThVQC2I/AAAAAAAA2zs/O8VUeXAAxTsKsTIEgvRFTHeu5BrRqZ0OQCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210924_134942361.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I LOVE camping in a trailer. 5 minute take down is all it took to get us back on the road and headed for Vernal. First we stopped at the local Field Office to get tips on nearby BLM camping, and any other sites or activities we needed to see. The woman loaded my hands with maps, and our brains with tips and sent us on our way. We still weren't really clear where were going to camp, but Vernal is surrounded by BLM land, so we knew we'd be able to find a spot somewhere. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blm-egis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f0da4c7931440a8a80bfe20eddd7550" target="_blank">This map</a> shows what area is BLM land and what isn't. It would be awesome if it was an overlay you could get on Google Maps, but we were mostly able to figure out where we were. We headed for the yellow section of the map, and found a fantastic spot right along the Green River. It was clearly used for partiers and was kind of a mess, but we took a chance and set up camp anyway, figuring that if the entire population of high schoolers showed up that night we could always move somewhere else. I also gave my boys a few garbage bags and had them fill them up and it was looking much nicer in no time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gcaj6VJKCmk/YVtzbwHsqxI/AAAAAAAA2z4/byfy5Xvnpnkka2KLSVD6-03J9DrOo3iBwCPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210924_181154365.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gcaj6VJKCmk/YVtzbwHsqxI/AAAAAAAA2z4/byfy5Xvnpnkka2KLSVD6-03J9DrOo3iBwCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210924_181154365.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5QGONTEmFH8/YVtzb6DFyaI/AAAAAAAA2z4/gverE-HWVGkOFTpSKXiNlWig5PA25UrNACPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210924_181340329.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5QGONTEmFH8/YVtzb6DFyaI/AAAAAAAA2z4/gverE-HWVGkOFTpSKXiNlWig5PA25UrNACPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210924_181340329.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then the fun could begin!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">About 45 minutes outside of Vernal, nestled in a field of oil derricks, is a little place called </div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Fantasy Canyon. </span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Words will not do it justice. Places like these are what pictures are for.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RUJWSw9B_Yc/YVt1bkEl_tI/AAAAAAAA20M/ZAop_zEQWp8jVHkGfp5fI0gOuBKOqb9iACPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210924_204052739.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RUJWSw9B_Yc/YVt1bkEl_tI/AAAAAAAA20M/ZAop_zEQWp8jVHkGfp5fI0gOuBKOqb9iACPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210924_204052739.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LEYWQAs9bO0/YVt1bpyYlSI/AAAAAAAA20M/mVyr6cPJ9nkl4v5KgkiTG9e8PRIsvYQGwCPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210924_202948954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LEYWQAs9bO0/YVt1bpyYlSI/AAAAAAAA20M/mVyr6cPJ9nkl4v5KgkiTG9e8PRIsvYQGwCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210924_202948954.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Re3Jh6fGFg/YVt1bibi8ZI/AAAAAAAA20M/SGOEXdJXlWQ7V8q4DutMqpMd615h7AmTQCPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210924_202820007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Re3Jh6fGFg/YVt1bibi8ZI/AAAAAAAA20M/SGOEXdJXlWQ7V8q4DutMqpMd615h7AmTQCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210924_202820007.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g2nmW6dnAWo/YVt1buDgM1I/AAAAAAAA20M/gozVNOQ_eKM03tCA9tqxcCyOPi7bssGOwCPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210924_211416346.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g2nmW6dnAWo/YVt1buDgM1I/AAAAAAAA20M/gozVNOQ_eKM03tCA9tqxcCyOPi7bssGOwCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210924_211416346.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qg3PZbA2Zi4/YVxmRPl-HXI/AAAAAAAA22Y/JxwdFCS3IaomGznp4qmmbaItQUL7YnDagCPcBGAsYHg/s2952/PXL_20210924_203016658.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2952" data-original-width="2160" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qg3PZbA2Zi4/YVxmRPl-HXI/AAAAAAAA22Y/JxwdFCS3IaomGznp4qmmbaItQUL7YnDagCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210924_203016658.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Amazing right? Have any movies been filmed here? I looked it up online, but there weren't any as far as I can tell. It is such a small and fragile place, it might not be possible, but it really looks like an alien landscape just crawled up out of the ground from another world. </div><div><br /></div><div>This helpful sign was on the outhouse door:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AGMoYpTrX9o/YVt2C-IbpqI/AAAAAAAA20c/wpkDVkhp430pcXlg_ePD8cE3Pc9Ex84oQCPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210924_201909063.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AGMoYpTrX9o/YVt2C-IbpqI/AAAAAAAA20c/wpkDVkhp430pcXlg_ePD8cE3Pc9Ex84oQCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210924_201909063.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We did NOT see any pigmy rattlesnakes, but you better believe I never let my guard down.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Later that day we went to see the Indian Petroglyph's at McConckie Ranch. We learned about this place at the local field office so we decided to check it out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LcofMsSFG4I/YVt4BqaG4AI/AAAAAAAA20o/76q_CKsmfis5DH6UJMjCuKqdxhtPjaV1wCPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210925_001144316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LcofMsSFG4I/YVt4BqaG4AI/AAAAAAAA20o/76q_CKsmfis5DH6UJMjCuKqdxhtPjaV1wCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210925_001144316.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We also decided to see what happens when you wink while frowning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zUGNZpkzwhA/YVt4loW8UmI/AAAAAAAA204/BAYiNlzCCng-_3u_UFJttQV8_XvMbZu0ACPcBGAsYHg/s2356/PXL_20210924_233546018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2356" data-original-width="1914" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zUGNZpkzwhA/YVt4loW8UmI/AAAAAAAA204/BAYiNlzCCng-_3u_UFJttQV8_XvMbZu0ACPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210924_233546018.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tyEyKQiVvQg/YVt4lgD97vI/AAAAAAAA204/XdN9HVbwul8c9z3lhfQhecNwEnMoy-JlACPcBGAsYHg/s2851/PXL_20210924_233552417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2851" data-original-width="2160" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tyEyKQiVvQg/YVt4lgD97vI/AAAAAAAA204/XdN9HVbwul8c9z3lhfQhecNwEnMoy-JlACPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210924_233552417.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3Gx64Zg468/YVt4BtLetxI/AAAAAAAA20o/sZloOBT080otzqYP4wLmYBKWsPfkbi2EwCPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210924_235839636.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3Gx64Zg468/YVt4BtLetxI/AAAAAAAA20o/sZloOBT080otzqYP4wLmYBKWsPfkbi2EwCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210924_235839636.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oBHKsG3eo1A/YVxmcyquPzI/AAAAAAAA22c/r6WGZDtAyz80EKqdTYY77_WuZILY4vRxACPcBGAsYHg/s2643/PXL_20210924_235549389.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2643" data-original-width="1982" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oBHKsG3eo1A/YVxmcyquPzI/AAAAAAAA22c/r6WGZDtAyz80EKqdTYY77_WuZILY4vRxACPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210924_235549389.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0fLVMJcqASQ/YVt4BnPB3lI/AAAAAAAA20o/dEjhjVR_cTo5DuwPG5cwvmJeCHfqyy7IQCPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210924_235329934.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0fLVMJcqASQ/YVt4BnPB3lI/AAAAAAAA20o/dEjhjVR_cTo5DuwPG5cwvmJeCHfqyy7IQCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210924_235329934.jpg" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We hiked around and saw lots of cool stuff, but we were getting hungry and tired so we headed back to camp. However, when I was looking up McConckie Ranch online, I found TONS of really cool petroglyphs that we didn't see. So we're going to have to go back! That was pretty much the theme of the whole trip. There is too much to see and do in the Uintah Basin. </div><h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We're going to have to go back. </h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Richard made Patty Melts for dinner and we built a fire on the beach and roasted marshmallows and then put out the fire and looked at the stars. We never saw another living soul, so maybe the locals only party there during the summer months.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I read some more Dune to the kids to help them wind down, and they were snoring in minutes. I'm going to have to remember that. Dune is like a sleeping draft of magicalness.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Saturday</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We started the morning (after eggs benedict, for reals, cuz my husband is truly wonderful) at the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum. (I suspect that when they were sitting in the Naming of the Museum Committee meeting they just couldn't come to any kind of consensus, so they named it everything they could think of.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We learned a lot and took a lot of awkward photos! (Some more awkward than others)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LzboiVWf0JU/YVt6fbEQaZI/AAAAAAAA21I/9HtOh6v16S8sY-8fS-eSmuLZ2ndsyXG8gCPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210925_164805710.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LzboiVWf0JU/YVt6fbEQaZI/AAAAAAAA21I/9HtOh6v16S8sY-8fS-eSmuLZ2ndsyXG8gCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210925_164805710.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YfD6VUjz3Co/YVt6fXwQtyI/AAAAAAAA21I/VC7VrKfV6J8ES5eaZnNBCgPEX3_IW7SBwCPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210925_172411638.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YfD6VUjz3Co/YVt6fXwQtyI/AAAAAAAA21I/VC7VrKfV6J8ES5eaZnNBCgPEX3_IW7SBwCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210925_172411638.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Look at his bravery. He doesn't even care that the Utah Raptor is about to eat him!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7BBvfa22wf0/YVt6fZjczyI/AAAAAAAA21I/s__JNIfl4cAEr8IbqG6DzAnnPBjVkQlRQCPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210925_173809906.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7BBvfa22wf0/YVt6fZjczyI/AAAAAAAA21I/s__JNIfl4cAEr8IbqG6DzAnnPBjVkQlRQCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210925_173809906.MP.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then it was time to head out to Dinosaur National Monument, in Jensen UT!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-myb6_VkiW38/YVxmnSWjIVI/AAAAAAAA22g/dl8klWy6Ebo5RlENgvpD5GRWhw8aQkPqACPcBGAsYHg/s2880/PXL_20210925_193212194.MP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2160" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-myb6_VkiW38/YVxmnSWjIVI/AAAAAAAA22g/dl8klWy6Ebo5RlENgvpD5GRWhw8aQkPqACPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210925_193212194.MP.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oCb4L238wLI/YVt7RjGWdhI/AAAAAAAA21Q/UUflvJXrSWY8YApus9qyQV-a2tqbSX9dQCPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210925_192328744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oCb4L238wLI/YVt7RjGWdhI/AAAAAAAA21Q/UUflvJXrSWY8YApus9qyQV-a2tqbSX9dQCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210925_192328744.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j-DOhVFDEfY/YVt7Roej52I/AAAAAAAA21Q/AM9WxF_V3zg5AcHA-G6mT5L9J03Z_2YDQCPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210925_193116367.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j-DOhVFDEfY/YVt7Roej52I/AAAAAAAA21Q/AM9WxF_V3zg5AcHA-G6mT5L9J03Z_2YDQCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210925_193116367.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Another really cool place that will require a lot more exploring. But it was so hot, and dogs are not allowed on a lot of the hiking trails, so this is another place we'll have to come back to.</div><div><br /></div><div>After lunch we headed for Red Fleet State Park. During the summer you can rent kayaks and paddle boards, which you can use to explore the lake and nearby Dinosaur Trackway. We had no such luck however, so we had to drive around the lake, and hike to the trackway. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v6Wbe8xCuc8/YVxmv112qoI/AAAAAAAA22k/BRQKwbu80hUuhjwr2n3zeY2hyoVrRTVGwCPcBGAsYHg/s2880/PXL_20210925_214604161.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2160" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v6Wbe8xCuc8/YVxmv112qoI/AAAAAAAA22k/BRQKwbu80hUuhjwr2n3zeY2hyoVrRTVGwCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210925_214604161.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Or maybe dance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GCdULAHIapo/YVt7RtIyf4I/AAAAAAAA21Q/La5DyNh4gH4psFpoVHfOXUTpRp4NpLOEgCPcBGAsYHg/s2880/PXL_20210925_214845615.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2160" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GCdULAHIapo/YVt7RtIyf4I/AAAAAAAA21Q/La5DyNh4gH4psFpoVHfOXUTpRp4NpLOEgCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210925_214845615.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VMnTWqWEGPo/YVt7Rr0SXRI/AAAAAAAA21Q/_B5ZHGotjhE94DU_MpFboEuQjjepwDZcgCPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210925_221410188.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VMnTWqWEGPo/YVt7Rr0SXRI/AAAAAAAA21Q/_B5ZHGotjhE94DU_MpFboEuQjjepwDZcgCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210925_221410188.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g0Bg4vsd9og/YVt7RiiZaOI/AAAAAAAA21Q/0_Y7eM2pZ9UudBxJl-YdBDvAVYWn6NXHQCPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210925_221619080.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g0Bg4vsd9og/YVt7RiiZaOI/AAAAAAAA21Q/0_Y7eM2pZ9UudBxJl-YdBDvAVYWn6NXHQCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210925_221619080.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EXxJRcx6Y3g/YVt7Ri8IwUI/AAAAAAAA21Q/tIHk4oRBSmw42yVmK_9JhPXA-EAnCe23ACPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210925_221735910.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EXxJRcx6Y3g/YVt7Ri8IwUI/AAAAAAAA21Q/tIHk4oRBSmw42yVmK_9JhPXA-EAnCe23ACPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210925_221735910.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-66fAKvOgtyo/YVxnCUWnGNI/AAAAAAAA22s/sUGzj4EcmFYmkytBv_NrntNtpdoiQDd7gCPcBGAsYHg/s2880/PXL_20210925_221957055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2160" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-66fAKvOgtyo/YVxnCUWnGNI/AAAAAAAA22s/sUGzj4EcmFYmkytBv_NrntNtpdoiQDd7gCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210925_221957055.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Dinosaur Tracks! Right under our feet! They were everywhere! When we'd seen all of the dinosaur tracks we could bear to see, it was time to head back. 1.5 miles each way isn't that big of a deal, right? We just had to climb back up this insanely steep hill. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Axfl8ZBwhi8/YVt7Rk7ZkZI/AAAAAAAA21Q/j-mXHhIO37kIWd_3bPkREbI34QfQl4KMACPcBGAsYHg/s3840/PXL_20210925_222036089.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Axfl8ZBwhi8/YVt7Rk7ZkZI/AAAAAAAA21Q/j-mXHhIO37kIWd_3bPkREbI34QfQl4KMACPcBGAsYHg/s16000/PXL_20210925_222036089.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hadn't realized we'd gone downhill so much on our way in, but by the time we climbed the mile and a half back up to our car, my legs were on fire. We were hot and tired and thirsty and slurpees were in order. Fortunately, Vernal has five 7-Elevens. For a population of 10,500. And I think we stopped at every single one. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I suppose that is the message I want to leave with you today. Vernal is the heart of Dinosaur Country and the 7-Eleven Capital of the World! So what are you waiting for? Visit the Uintah Basin today!</div><p></p>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-38985628998656969032020-06-07T22:07:00.025-06:002021-11-16T14:29:08.490-07:00How To Turn Weeds into Lawn in just 99 Easy Steps<h2 style="text-align: left;">1. Get rid of your old Septic Tank. </h2><div>Think you don't have a Septic Tank? Well, maybe you don't. Maybe what you have is just a ghetto cavity deep in the ground that your toilet waste has been pumped into for the last 15 years. I don't know. Your sewer set up is really none of my business.</div><div><br /></div><div>Wanna see a picture of OUR hole in the ground?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i6Nt_Bw4n7w/XsrLAKzHubI/AAAAAAAAetY/CvR9L-VeUUosOBs18tkuAAvoHxP2cejPACK4BGAsYHg/20190622_124324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3984" data-original-width="2988" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i6Nt_Bw4n7w/XsrLAKzHubI/AAAAAAAAetY/CvR9L-VeUUosOBs18tkuAAvoHxP2cejPACK4BGAsYHg/w480-h640/20190622_124324.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ml032TiHtQY/XsrLAugpdOI/AAAAAAAAetc/zZgdYQnxaUoSCI7rTfnLx3CMeV9kPUdVgCK4BGAsYHg/20190622_124336.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3984" data-original-width="2988" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ml032TiHtQY/XsrLAugpdOI/AAAAAAAAetc/zZgdYQnxaUoSCI7rTfnLx3CMeV9kPUdVgCK4BGAsYHg/w480-h640/20190622_124336.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Those are actual wooden logs floating in it, FYI. We used a backhoe to dig it up. When we cracked through the slab of asphalt with that was laying across the top, the smell slammed into us like a stinky slap in the face, but after a bit it wasn't so bad. Probably because the smell floated into all our neighbor's yards. It's fun to live in our neighborhood.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Anyway, get that sucker pumped out and filled in and move on with your life as quickly as possible. Then you'll be ready to get to the actual yard work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. Chop Down Some Trees.</h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I mean, you don't have to. But if you are going to chop down any trees, NOW really is the time to do it. You don't want to tear up your pretty new grass during the massacre. This big ol' tree in front of our house was really close to the foundation. It also grew directly over the gas line. And, like half of the trees on our lot, it was growing into the power lines, so every couple of years the city came and hacked the top off. With so many strikes against it, we decided maybe it was time for this tree to move on. Good thing we still had the Manlift!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span> </span></div></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f8cIzeKWayI/XsrNXREG8CI/AAAAAAAAevA/uuTDoxzQjLI8QfSBmsnY14sLhMEeCvlJQCK4BGAsYHg/IMG_20190918_132551.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f8cIzeKWayI/XsrNXREG8CI/AAAAAAAAevA/uuTDoxzQjLI8QfSBmsnY14sLhMEeCvlJQCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20190918_132551.jpg" title="Sep 18, 2019" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><pre><br /></pre></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ij-mxb2D8ns/XsrPrAPTvHI/AAAAAAAAev0/MDfjJmyKw5UOjXVk-HCq6D4w5bjys_LCQCK4BGAsYHg/20190920_155620.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2988" data-original-width="3984" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ij-mxb2D8ns/XsrPrAPTvHI/AAAAAAAAev0/MDfjJmyKw5UOjXVk-HCq6D4w5bjys_LCQCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/20190920_155620.jpg" title="Sep 20, 2019" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">It started raining on us but I bribed Colin's friends with plates of cookies if they would help us drag all the branches into the backyard and we managed to get most everything cleared up.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yWg8k9D8qGY/XsrcD01lLkI/AAAAAAAAe9k/dcXt69yQYF03U3w_Nz7v1-O539fLANOEQCK4BGAsYHg/IMG_20190920_174958.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yWg8k9D8qGY/XsrcD01lLkI/AAAAAAAAe9k/dcXt69yQYF03U3w_Nz7v1-O539fLANOEQCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20190920_174958.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Right next to that tree there was a plum tree and a snowball bush that we tried to save, but in the end, they didn't make it.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">2. Remove all the Weeds.</h2><div style="text-align: left;">First I used Vinegar to kill my weeds, cuz I had read somewhere that it was the best thing to do. It killed a few weeds, but apparently vinegar doesn't kill the roots, so it really doesn't get you much in the long run. So next I used a deadly weed killer and sprayed the heck out of my weeds. A few of them died, but I think my weeds are some kind of super strain, because mostly they just mocked me. I finally gave up and had the front lawn tilled. I found some guy on KSL who was just trying to make enough money to justify the tiller he had bought. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gve0DgtLK54/Xsrcf_K-jwI/AAAAAAAAe90/teoB6XqGbLQjoK3lPh74DBbqPPcmV3dOACK4BGAsYHg/20190923_100055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Sep 23, 2019" border="0" data-original-height="2988" data-original-width="3984" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gve0DgtLK54/Xsrcf_K-jwI/AAAAAAAAe90/teoB6XqGbLQjoK3lPh74DBbqPPcmV3dOACK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/20190923_100055.jpg" title="Sep 23, 2019" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">2. Remove all the rocks. </h2><div style="text-align: left;">There is no picture for this, but I think you get the gyst.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">3. Remove all the rocks. </h2><div style="text-align: left;">You missed some.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">4. Remove all the rocks.</h2><div><span>Nope, you still missed some more. </span> </div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">5. Plan out your sprinkler system!</h2><div>For this, we used Richard's brother, who planned out the whole system for us. If you don't have a brother-in-law with sprinkler skills, I think Sprinkler World will also work up sprinkler plans for you if you buy your parts from them. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NG6EfOt_LsU/Xt1zAbIxj3I/AAAAAAAAfgA/8RvIK7BZqgMgMdT3r3JSj5w5nbYwQGP_wCK4BGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_20200607_163143.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NG6EfOt_LsU/Xt1zAbIxj3I/AAAAAAAAfgA/8RvIK7BZqgMgMdT3r3JSj5w5nbYwQGP_wCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20200607_163143.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">6. Dig your trenches. </h2><div>We rented this bad boy. </div><div><div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M9K6yId6nNQ/Xsrdva8UIgI/AAAAAAAAe-A/mSZcVJgoCYcNFHgCMRc2fYxuTTJ9mtXqQCK4BGAsYHg/20190928_190846.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3984" data-original-width="2988" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M9K6yId6nNQ/Xsrdva8UIgI/AAAAAAAAe-A/mSZcVJgoCYcNFHgCMRc2fYxuTTJ9mtXqQCK4BGAsYHg/w480-h640/20190928_190846.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><p> It made the work easier, but it was still exhausting. And because of poor planning, there were still a couple of trenches we had to dig by hand. I swear, digging will be the death of me.</p><div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DeZirm7LqGQ/XsreMNNl-9I/AAAAAAAAe-I/LbsMGIvnzyctOuoxufByI3OOGCI-Okf4ACK4BGAsYHg/20190928_190913.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2988" data-original-width="3984" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DeZirm7LqGQ/XsreMNNl-9I/AAAAAAAAe-I/LbsMGIvnzyctOuoxufByI3OOGCI-Okf4ACK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/20190928_190913.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"> 7. Remove all rocks. </h2><div>I know you think you already did this, but apparently you didn't, because there are still SO MANY. Good luck finding somewhere to put them.</div></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">8. Remove all rocks. </h2><div>I'm not kidding. </div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">9. Remove all rocks.</h2><div><span>For reals. </span> </div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">10. Put in your pipes.</h2><div>Use your brother-in-law for this too, if you can trick him into it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OHDcXJzwssQ/Xsrfn2QOeAI/AAAAAAAAe-U/oBNDd4d1vzwExysAQ58kgwaIKOnkPn-ogCK4BGAsYHg/20190928_190908.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2988" data-original-width="3984" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OHDcXJzwssQ/Xsrfn2QOeAI/AAAAAAAAe-U/oBNDd4d1vzwExysAQ58kgwaIKOnkPn-ogCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/20190928_190908.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-m1-endi44/XsrgHwlactI/AAAAAAAAe-c/9FOa4p9ofs0mJYzuJ8RnMqLonE7_7CNsQCK4BGAsYHg/20191004_172506.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3984" data-original-width="2988" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-m1-endi44/XsrgHwlactI/AAAAAAAAe-c/9FOa4p9ofs0mJYzuJ8RnMqLonE7_7CNsQCK4BGAsYHg/w480-h640/20191004_172506.jpg" title="Oct 4, 2019" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>11. Bake your brother-in-law a cake. Or cookies. Or maybe a pie. Or he might never talk to you again. </div><div><br /></div><div>12. Fill in your trenches and rake everything smooth again.</div><div><br /></div><div>13. Remove all rocks. You are really bad at this. That's why you have to keep doing it over and over.</div><div><br /></div><div>14. Wait all winter long because someone at the hydroseed place told you didn't need to call to get on the schedule until October 10th or so, but when you call on the 10th you find out that they stopped spraying hydroseed on October 1st. Try not to be too bitter about this. But pick a different company to use when its time.</div><div><br /></div><div>15. It is Spring! Time to kill the weeds again! Good luck! They are even more resistant to weed killer than they were last year!</div><div><br /></div><div>16. Remember just in the nick of time that you also need to get rid of the stump leftover from the tree you cut down last fall. Pay a tree service to grind it out for you because you've learned the hard way that removing stumps yourself is virtually impossible.</div><div><br /></div><div>16. Rake the soil smooth again.</div><div><br /></div><div>17. Remove all the rocks. It is possible that someone is sneaking the rocks back into the soil when you are not around.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIoYKgPIt5M/Xsrioz8K87I/AAAAAAAAe-o/ImN2qTPVAM83OhZzhHB5wsZEev3JgJkDwCK4BGAsYHg/IMG_20200422_143820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FIoYKgPIt5M/Xsrioz8K87I/AAAAAAAAe-o/ImN2qTPVAM83OhZzhHB5wsZEev3JgJkDwCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20200422_143820.jpg" title="April 22, 2020" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">18. Get some Topsoil</h2><div>We had our topsoil delivered from Topsoil.Rocks. That is the name of the company. <a href="https://topsoil.rocks/wp-content/cache/all/index.html">https://topsoil.rocks/wp-content/cache/all/index.html</a> The price was good and the delivery was free and they left us with a big pile of dirt in the road. Good times. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nkf4TgdnDGE/XsrjqjL2tKI/AAAAAAAAe-w/VKq9o7oMeVAye81iJJwh5N_B0mA07I52wCK4BGAsYHg/IMG_20200424_151011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nkf4TgdnDGE/XsrjqjL2tKI/AAAAAAAAe-w/VKq9o7oMeVAye81iJJwh5N_B0mA07I52wCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20200424_151011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p> I spent ALL DAY with my boys shoveling dirt into the wheelbarrow (wheel barrel? I don't know what it is called! I could look it up but I don't care!) and dumping it in piles around the lawn. I made it about a 3rd a way through the pile. So the next day we rented a machine to help us because we wanted to not spend the rest of our lives shoveling dirt.</p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fK4NAVIZx98/Xsrk5Vf40II/AAAAAAAAe_E/0YKC_Lhr4GI5wy9qSepWA2P8zzh_HzOMACK4BGAsYHg/MVIMG_20200425_125444.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fK4NAVIZx98/Xsrk5Vf40II/AAAAAAAAe_E/0YKC_Lhr4GI5wy9qSepWA2P8zzh_HzOMACK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/MVIMG_20200425_125444.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div><p> We wanted to rent a bobcat, but that big thing was the only one we could find on a Saturday. Those stupid tracks tore the crap out of everything. We tried to fill in some holes in the backyard, and it is now a total disaster. </p><div><br /></div><div>19. Rake the yard smooth.</div><div><br /></div><div>20-46. Remove all rocks. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J4eeUuJBKF8/Xsrm2U24dhI/AAAAAAAAfA4/yVd2My6i2wgDVexvkh5lTrZTQLiKuSvnACK4BGAsYHg/IMG_20200426_082001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J4eeUuJBKF8/Xsrm2U24dhI/AAAAAAAAfA4/yVd2My6i2wgDVexvkh5lTrZTQLiKuSvnACK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20200426_082001.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">47. Install Curbing.</h2><div>Actually, maybe I should swap these. Do some research. I don't know if it is how all concrete curbing is done, but the guy who put ours in made the curbing really tall. He told me specifically that the curbing should go in after the top soil, but I really wished we had put the curbing in first. So, I don't know. Educate yourself on the process more than I did and plan accordingly.</div><div><br /></div><div>Curbing is sold with a minimum. The guy I used charges for at least 100 feet. Some people require you to pay for 150 feet. So we figure if we were paying for it anyway, we'd put in as much as we could. We were just going to section off space for flowers in front of the house, but we decided to extend it all the way around the side of the house while we were at it. It came out to 90 feet. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R7w6kGc-zuM/Xsr1iLokx3I/AAAAAAAAfBY/0ivKbP4Ug1MYu6m0bqaO0Xl1O9weTz4IwCK4BGAsYHg/IMG_20200503_150920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R7w6kGc-zuM/Xsr1iLokx3I/AAAAAAAAfBY/0ivKbP4Ug1MYu6m0bqaO0Xl1O9weTz4IwCK4BGAsYHg/w480-h640/IMG_20200503_150920.jpg" title="April 30, 2020" width="480" /></a></div> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5n74tYNjRak/Xsr2Dkp6RQI/AAAAAAAAfBg/Ily0l45EaysSKqWXgXO8PdAZodeBDcvbACK4BGAsYHg/IMG_20200503_150907.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5n74tYNjRak/Xsr2Dkp6RQI/AAAAAAAAfBg/Ily0l45EaysSKqWXgXO8PdAZodeBDcvbACK4BGAsYHg/w480-h640/IMG_20200503_150907.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><p> The lines looks so wiggly from a distance. I wanted them wavy. But do I like the way it turned out? I'm hoping once it is full of plants the wiggly lines won't be as noticeable. </p><div><br /></div><div>48. Get angry at the weeds that think they own the place and dig them all out by hand. </div><div><br /></div><div>49. Rake the yard smooth. Despair of ever getting it smooth.</div><div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">50-95. Remove all rocks.</h2><div>Curse rocks to the deepest trenches of hell. Shake your fists at the sky as the rocks mock you, and recruit all their friends to help ruin your life. Refuse to give in. Never give up! Never Surrender! You will be victorious!</div></div><div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">96. It's Hydroseed time!</h2><div>We chose Hydroseed primary because of cost. I think I got a quote for sod once. It was in the thousands. I don't remember. Lots of money. The cost for Hydroseed for the same area? $180.00. </div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_XBGXFpJJs/Xsr3lMwbtPI/AAAAAAAAfB0/o20WtF4q-n0Zz1Rzk6CXguZNGEVAdiHOQCK4BGAsYHg/IMG_20200504_114059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E_XBGXFpJJs/Xsr3lMwbtPI/AAAAAAAAfB0/o20WtF4q-n0Zz1Rzk6CXguZNGEVAdiHOQCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20200504_114059.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zzEmhklk3lk/Xsr3qhXSbiI/AAAAAAAAfB4/ephsNpY4u1gAr92oZ3mcm7Yq-9fI0G5AwCK4BGAsYHg/IMG_20200504_120048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zzEmhklk3lk/Xsr3qhXSbiI/AAAAAAAAfB4/ephsNpY4u1gAr92oZ3mcm7Yq-9fI0G5AwCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20200504_120048.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-23gkXtxEq9M/Xsr3xzIQHVI/AAAAAAAAfB8/LGBatpa0PDs2dy-7M0Q-BPNxyzsbJ1mZgCK4BGAsYHg/IMG_20200504_120054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-23gkXtxEq9M/Xsr3xzIQHVI/AAAAAAAAfB8/LGBatpa0PDs2dy-7M0Q-BPNxyzsbJ1mZgCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20200504_120054.jpg" title="May 4, 2020" width="640" /></a></div> </div><div>Rejoice in the grassy future that awaits you!</div><div><div> </div></div><div>97. Cry into your pillow when the city shows up two days later to replace the sidewalk in front of your house, trampling the hydroseed all to heck.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-veCfZgqoLc8/Xsr4X7j5DlI/AAAAAAAAfCE/dzF5wDqOKP8_5-qFYh6PfZhPqARn_hiqwCK4BGAsYHg/MVIMG_20200506_151157_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-veCfZgqoLc8/Xsr4X7j5DlI/AAAAAAAAfCE/dzF5wDqOKP8_5-qFYh6PfZhPqARn_hiqwCK4BGAsYHg/w480-h640/MVIMG_20200506_151157_1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-skbAXSLrH8g/Xsr4YQqGUqI/AAAAAAAAfCI/-hRLRXlCDFs6H4oGmaZG-fLsasc9yR9UwCK4BGAsYHg/IMG_20200510_132319.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-skbAXSLrH8g/Xsr4YQqGUqI/AAAAAAAAfCI/-hRLRXlCDFs6H4oGmaZG-fLsasc9yR9UwCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20200510_132319.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">98. Sit Around and Watch the Grass Grow.</h2><div>Hydroseed is cheap, but it comes at a cost. The first week especially we constantly worried that we were watering it either too much or not enough and had no idea if we were doing either one. But One Week later we had tiny blades of grass shooting out of the ground!</div><div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BDzlbV5r4c0/Xsr5UXnccfI/AAAAAAAAfCU/9G_zuma9-zkKYL-mCZz9pIIpLbNJg49KgCK4BGAsYHg/IMG_20200512_103500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BDzlbV5r4c0/Xsr5UXnccfI/AAAAAAAAfCU/9G_zuma9-zkKYL-mCZz9pIIpLbNJg49KgCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20200512_103500.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div></div><p> Look closely. They're there.</p><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">99. Take pictures of your brand new baby grass! </h2><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">WEEK 2 </h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNp3VyL_-8g/Xsr5U8lrImI/AAAAAAAAfCY/oyx9pnds4wUzjbsZd1Uzhhw96UQfLC5DgCK4BGAsYHg/IMG_20200518_095343.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNp3VyL_-8g/Xsr5U8lrImI/AAAAAAAAfCY/oyx9pnds4wUzjbsZd1Uzhhw96UQfLC5DgCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20200518_095343.jpg" width="640" /></a></h2><div style="text-align: left;">It looks like grass! It really does! And what the heck is that round thing pushing up out of the ground?</div><div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TMXxV6iPkXs/Xsr5VtPDVdI/AAAAAAAAfCg/gCDMOPJnMD8XnEA-aTFGCbabSbMVSiGRACK4BGAsYHg/IMG_20200519_190345.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TMXxV6iPkXs/Xsr5VtPDVdI/AAAAAAAAfCg/gCDMOPJnMD8XnEA-aTFGCbabSbMVSiGRACK4BGAsYHg/w480-h640/IMG_20200519_190345.jpg" width="480" /></a></div> </div></div><p> Why are you here, giant mushroom? </p><h2 style="text-align: left;">WEEK3!</h2><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gpAOH0op_7c/Xt1tv6EkoTI/AAAAAAAAfd4/QJ-qdpVmlKYK9HXjoXnz1MrT05PINGn4gCK4BGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_20200526_091433.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gpAOH0op_7c/Xt1tv6EkoTI/AAAAAAAAfd4/QJ-qdpVmlKYK9HXjoXnz1MrT05PINGn4gCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20200526_091433.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EdHTTC0ZWZo/Xt1twR_1o8I/AAAAAAAAfd8/QwWVdOP1XX8sR-qfhLnv94FwDegrEoHGACK4BGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_20200526_091417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EdHTTC0ZWZo/Xt1twR_1o8I/AAAAAAAAfd8/QwWVdOP1XX8sR-qfhLnv94FwDegrEoHGACK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20200526_091417.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p> Hot dang, would you look at that? There have been several more mushrooms pushing up from the depths of the soil, but I eat mushrooms for breakfast, so they were no match for me. </p><p>During week three, we got to mow the lawn and put down fertilizer. Exciting times!</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">WEEK 4!</h2><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3lqBmMEBLDs/Xt1vbY3svwI/AAAAAAAAfew/4ZKDg6FYP8YxYWIIuRLzP-q8BGB9fGU5ACK4BGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_20200602_065641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3lqBmMEBLDs/Xt1vbY3svwI/AAAAAAAAfew/4ZKDg6FYP8YxYWIIuRLzP-q8BGB9fGU5ACK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20200602_065641.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p> Folks, we have grass. We also have weeds. Lots of weeds. But enough time has passed that we can put down a broad leaf weed killer. And weeds are normal in the first year, but hopefully by next year the grass will be strong enough that it will choke out the weeds. You know what they say: The best defense for weeds is a healthy lawn. </p><p>So, that's about it. You too can have grass by following these simple steps. </p><div><br /></div><div>Here is a fun before picture. This is from Google Street View right after we moved back in to our remodeled house. I especially like how cute and tiny the minivan looks in this picture.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i8VyQ2t66XA/Xt1xTHmWpcI/AAAAAAAAffM/iK_q-OAS51cyTKFRcq_EQhJmx8RgVzMZQCK4BGAsYHg/s1920/house%2B-%2Bgoogle%2Bstreet%2Bview.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="1920" height="312" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i8VyQ2t66XA/Xt1xTHmWpcI/AAAAAAAAffM/iK_q-OAS51cyTKFRcq_EQhJmx8RgVzMZQCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h312/house%2B-%2Bgoogle%2Bstreet%2Bview.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And here is how it looks today! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HSiHE7YC9pc/Xt21JiNYn0I/AAAAAAAAfhQ/AvFBjFnHeNEIY0gWctl2M_t4uA2aIPSmQCK4BGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_20200607_190559.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HSiHE7YC9pc/Xt21JiNYn0I/AAAAAAAAfhQ/AvFBjFnHeNEIY0gWctl2M_t4uA2aIPSmQCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20200607_190559.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is the WAY BEFORE, just for reference:</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="_MG_3502" height="427" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5330/30808254752_6f2f58f016_c.jpg" width="640" /></div><div><br /></div><div>That's the end. Go home now.</div>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-82213840640266323442020-05-24T13:02:00.002-06:002021-10-05T10:21:16.708-06:00Perfectly Acceptable<div>The very best thing that has come from being trapped in this house with the same 3 looneys for the last two and a half months is that they all agreed that it was time they started helping out with dinner. </div><div><br /></div><div>Monday Richard cooks, Tuesday Colin cooks, and Wednesday Harrison cooks. Yes, they need lots of help, but I am determined to teach them and one day they'll be doing it on their own. </div><div><br /></div><div>Not only are Mondays now my favorite day, but our dinner menu has now expanded in new and exciting ways. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here are the Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwiches Richard made. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b5jf56fqGZc/Xsq6XXZuEoI/AAAAAAAAers/UM4uhKt4Ii0Bg2MYrg01q7MxbrYkt8hsgCK4BGAsYHg/IMG_20200511_182000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b5jf56fqGZc/Xsq6XXZuEoI/AAAAAAAAers/UM4uhKt4Ii0Bg2MYrg01q7MxbrYkt8hsgCK4BGAsYHg/s16000/IMG_20200511_182000.jpg" /></a></div><div><br />Hot dang, they were good. It occurs to me now that I should share the recipe with you. Let me see if I can find it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ah ha! <a href="https://wildflourskitchen.com/2018/04/25/chicken-cordon-bleu-sandwiches-with-maple-mustard-sauce/">https://wildflourskitchen.com/2018/04/25/chicken-cordon-bleu-sandwiches-with-maple-mustard-sauce/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Moving on. Colin made pizza. This one was half cheese, half Italian sausage. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yShpodELs5w/XsrCFz2jN6I/AAAAAAAAesM/Uyiekos8q9IGv8gKd9FQ516XshJIC55-wCK4BGAsYHg/IMG_20200519_182053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yShpodELs5w/XsrCFz2jN6I/AAAAAAAAesM/Uyiekos8q9IGv8gKd9FQ516XshJIC55-wCK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20200519_182053.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It was super good but the leftovers were only so so. Delicious leftovers is important to me. And maybe next time I'd like to try a thinner crust, cuz this one got pretty puffy. </div><div><br /></div><div>Harrison made Hamburger stuffed French Bread. </div><div><a href="https://www.thespruceeats.com/beef-cheesy-stuffed-french-bread-4133606">https://www.thespruceeats.com/beef-cheesy-stuffed-french-bread-4133606</a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is Colin demonstrating how big his piece is.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6tJLJC9bkIw/XsrDOMd9RQI/AAAAAAAAesk/WPFMN37CZCMHV4FUXtyaSw3Ju_NqvPWmACK4BGAsYHg/IMG_20200426_192715.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6tJLJC9bkIw/XsrDOMd9RQI/AAAAAAAAesk/WPFMN37CZCMHV4FUXtyaSw3Ju_NqvPWmACK4BGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20200426_192715.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Colin's head is a very standard unit of measurement.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, uh, yeah. Food. Food is the best thing going on in my life right now. How about you?</div>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-54857126068646086802020-04-17T15:03:00.004-06:002021-10-05T10:22:40.659-06:00Chillaxin'Back in February when life was normal, my nine-year-old was playing Minecraft with the girl who lives next door and I heard him say:<br />
<br />
"Pretend we like to chillax all day."<br />
<br />
It makes sense that his idea of make believe is pretending to"<i>chillax</i>". I've made his life pretty difficult. I make him pick up his toys. I make him clean up his bedroom. I'm like a demented prison warden, just heaping on the torture.<br />
<br />
It gets worse. I have recently starting making my kids help clean up after dinner. I know. I know. You would never do this. No sane, loving mother would do it. But I have a mean streak a mile wide and they are gonna help me one way or another.<br />
<br />
The other night I laid down the law. Harrison had to clear the table, and Colin had to help me load the dishwasher. Don't report me, okay?<br />
<br />
Colin had had enough. The tyranny just got to be too much for him. And he rebelled.<br />
<br />
Eventually, I was standing at the sink loading the dishwasher all alone, while Colin rode his electric dirt bike through the house, sobbing, "Why don't I ever get to have any fun? Why don't I ever get to do anything <i>I</i> want to do? Why are you ruining my life?"<br />
<br />
And I laughed. As we've already established, I am very heartless. I will have to figure out how to stop ruining his life by allowing him to ride his dirt bike in the house while also NOT doing any work. Really, I've got to make some changes.<br />
<br />
I only wish I had a picture of him crying on his motorcycle, but, alas, I do not.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KIY8rdyktYg/YVfwNKTiwiI/AAAAAAAA2eg/FRF03IY0GnAev1RURTppcPQ9zHbFYatAgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_20200215_131145.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KIY8rdyktYg/YVfwNKTiwiI/AAAAAAAA2eg/FRF03IY0GnAev1RURTppcPQ9zHbFYatAgCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/IMG_20200215_131145.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-80247668253292425732020-04-15T14:40:00.005-06:002021-11-17T13:09:15.641-07:00A Short and Rather Useless Book Review - The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lq-jHj68f_Y/YVyLFMrD5EI/AAAAAAAA23A/NPEDe-B0d3shrcZk04mkNL3H_VnpaTWTgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_20200323_131357.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lq-jHj68f_Y/YVyLFMrD5EI/AAAAAAAA23A/NPEDe-B0d3shrcZk04mkNL3H_VnpaTWTgCPcBGAsYHg/s16000/IMG_20200323_131357.jpg" /></a></div>
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This book is fun. It's as simple as that. I started off listening to the audiobook, which is FANTASTIC. But there was a problem. This book includes pictures:<br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O-CjLXCBly0/YZVhFhKi7bI/AAAAAAAA6U0/gTqyLEyecxA5NrPbtdk9Pb49W8bcV41IgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200323_131411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O-CjLXCBly0/YZVhFhKi7bI/AAAAAAAA6U0/gTqyLEyecxA5NrPbtdk9Pb49W8bcV41IgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_20200323_131411.jpg" width="480" /></a><br />
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The idea is that the pictures kind of contradict the narrative, which is really pretty silly, but helpful to know beforehand, because at first I was a bit confused.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9iqlvEbewIQ/YVrtF9wp-VI/AAAAAAAA2wI/8yznxuX9fZ0pHg7Y91C0xMHDPxRe7JBOgCPcBGAsYHg/s4032/IMG_20200412_112042-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9iqlvEbewIQ/YVrtF9wp-VI/AAAAAAAA2wI/8yznxuX9fZ0pHg7Y91C0xMHDPxRe7JBOgCPcBGAsYHg/w640-h480/IMG_20200412_112042-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And while I believe the audio book includes a PDF of the pictures, those are pretty hard to look at while you are driving, or gardening, or cleaning out your dungeon. But I fell so much in love with the voices on the audio book that I finally ended up listening to the audio while simultaneously reading the physical book whilst lounging in bed. I had to stop cleaning out the dungeon to do it, but it was worth it.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-88668215392107470212020-04-12T14:30:00.004-06:002021-11-17T13:14:20.984-07:00Something Good - April 12, 2020Happy Easter! It's Sunday, which means it is time for more good things!<br />
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The first and best thing of the week was that it was Spring Break, which means no school. And since I am now the teacher, that meant more to me this week than it ever has before. No School! For a whole week! Woohoo!!<br />
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Last Sunday we had a game night with my family over Zoom. We played, at my request, Star Wars Trivial Pursuit.<br />
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It was fun and awesome and wonderful, because not only could I play with my sisters who live in the same town as me, and my mom and nieces who live within driving distance, but also with my sister who lives in Maine, and my niece who lives in Oregon. We're finally getting the band back together!!<br />
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The problem was that we tried to use the board. We had one camera aimed constantly at the board, but it was still too small for most people to see what was going on. We'd roll the dice for them (which in this game means bopping R2D2 on the head, and he randomly generates a number) and then move their peice and then ask them the questions. But there were like 8 of us, so it took forever for everyone to take their turn. (the game only comes with 4 movers, so we had to make some out of LEGO minifigs.)<br />
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It would have worked much better to do just ask the questions and let anyone who knew the answer shout it out or something, and just skip the board altogether, but live and learn.<br />
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Since it was Spring Break and we were going absolutely bonkers trapped at home, we decided to go camping. We found this little canyon in Fountain Green with some really awesome hiking that we had almost totally to ourselves.<br />
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The boys spent a lot of time pretending to be lost in the mountains. It was thrilling for them, and they were always within eyesight and there was a small stream burbling by and it was gorgeous.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J5kiAZWEiOc/YZVhvHxpuvI/AAAAAAAA6VE/s9IlbnldTH4mQKDlPPH6OHHNGvt3rAzUwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200408_141309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J5kiAZWEiOc/YZVhvHxpuvI/AAAAAAAA6VE/s9IlbnldTH4mQKDlPPH6OHHNGvt3rAzUwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20200408_141309.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We hiked through this cool slot canyon, but the walls were unlike anything I've seen before. It wasn't like the red rock you see in Southern Utah. This was more like naturally occurring cement, with smaller rocks all stuck together forming the canyon walls.<br />
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This was was far as we got. There was a rope, so we could have tried to climb straight up that waterfall behind us in the picture above, but maybe we'll save that next time.<br />
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Later in the week we got a drive-by visit from some family!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hK3f764ruJU/YZViXf-6DcI/AAAAAAAA6Vg/xwuDfJDMEPg9wgGw3_x6PuZ8-4McBW-uQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200410_152654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hK3f764ruJU/YZViXf-6DcI/AAAAAAAA6Vg/xwuDfJDMEPg9wgGw3_x6PuZ8-4McBW-uQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20200410_152654.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
And the boys entertained themselves by laughing at their own reflections.<br />
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And yesterday I finished reading Cinder, by Marissa Meyer, a Cinderella retelling, wherein Cinderella is a Cyborg. Yep. It was every bit as awesome as it sounds.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qAa5ItajsGE/YZViXTv5sNI/AAAAAAAA6Vk/knnG27JWMQ451tFkQY0nZADuCpIpb7mzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_20200409_124755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qAa5ItajsGE/YZViXTv5sNI/AAAAAAAA6Vk/knnG27JWMQ451tFkQY0nZADuCpIpb7mzgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/IMG_20200409_124755.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is the first in a series, and is totally incomplete on its own, which usually makes me really mad. Well, it made me mad this time too, but I loved it so much that my only option was to buy the next book on Kindle and start reading it immediately!<br /><br />And that's all folk! Tune in next week for more good things!</div>
elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-65856901822378029982020-04-06T00:11:00.002-06:002021-10-05T11:52:42.990-06:00Something Good - April 5, 2020I was born an optimist. But something about getting older has sort of changed that. Not that my outlook for the future is grim, it's just that life is hard, and the realities of its struggles tends to take a toll. The prophet, <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/?lang=eng" target="_blank">President Russell M. Nelson</a> described it as "The heart wrenching maze of our mortal experience." Which is beautiful and sad and true.<br />
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But the world is also full of good things. Some big and huge and wonderful and some small and silly and insignificant. My memory is bad. And what if, ten years from now, I have forgotten all of the small things?<br />
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So it is time to write them down. I try to be a diligent journal writer, but it isn't always possible. So here I am, sharing good things with you. Or at at least sharing good things with me, which I appreciate very much. Thanks me. I'm welcome.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">GOOD THINGS THIS WEEK</span></b><br />
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Utah's Current Pandemic Situation is "Stay Home, Stay Safe", (which I think means "We're advising you to stay home, but we aren't going to enforce it.") but I have had my kids under a pretty strict lock down ever since the 12th. We are all pretty bored of staring at each other's faces by this point. We are all pretty bored of never going anywhere.<br />
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But the 1st was My Birthday! And one must have fun on one's birthday, even if one is stuck at home with the same silly goobers day after day.<br />
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Our tradition is always singing and presents with breakfast. We try to make breakfast kind of big and special, but Richard was feeling overwhelmed so we ordered breakfast from Denny's. They were offering free delivery, and their online ordering system is seriously the best online ordering system I have ever used. 45 minutes later someone left breakfast on our front porch and ran away. Honestly, what else could a girl ask for on her birthday?<br />
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And then, Richard gave me The Murderbot Diaries:<br />
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I've only read the first one so far. The kindle book is $3.99 I think. But the rest are $10.00, which I just thought was way too much for an e-novella. Turns out the hardbacks are about the same price, which feels better somehow and if my husband wants to give them to me for my birthday, I will happily devour them.<br />
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My boys each gave me a clay creation of their own. Introducing Pig and Pear! The crime fighting duo!</div>
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They are so cute I can't stand it.<br />
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And this kid made me, and I quote: "Something cool, with a hint of Colin." </div>
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He also gave me a small sea shell, so I would have something to put in it.<br />
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In other news, yesterday I made THESE cinnamon rolls:<br />
<a href="http://tacpaskett.blogspot.com/2014/01/1-hour-cinnamon-rolls.html">http://tacpaskett.blogspot.com/2014/01/1-hour-cinnamon-rolls.html</a><br />
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They were only supposed to take an hour, but I guess I am slow cuz it took more like 2 1/2 hours.<br />
And the recipe was supposed to make 24 cinnamon rolls, half of which you can see here:</div>
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But that is only if you want cinnamon rolls the size of your face.</div>
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And, oh, <i>I do. </i>PLUS, I swapped out the oil for applesauce and so that giant thing is only 332 calories! (I am still wondering if I calculated that wrong. Could it really be 332 calories for a sweet roll that size??)</div>
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However, I decided that 24 face-sized cinnamon rolls was maybe more than the four of us could eat. So after making those 12 gargantuan cinnamon rolls, I took the other half of the dough and made all of this:</div>
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Incidentally, rolls made out of cinnamon roll dough are fine, but I prefer my rolls a little more salty and buttery. </div>
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Lastly, there is this, because pens make me happy. This picture here is like sticking a smiley face on the end of the post. </div>
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elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-36301317941343373342019-06-03T11:27:00.000-06:002020-04-12T11:46:57.015-06:00Do-It-Yourself Renaissance Faire on a DimeFor my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary we wanted to do something special.<br />
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But we kind of forgot to do something special, and then time passed really fast and suddenly it was just a couple of weeks away and we were like "Oh no! We ran out of time! Let's just give up and take them to dinner!"<br />
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Luckily my sister Faralee said that just dinner was unnacceptable. That, by golly, it was their 50th Wedding Anniversary, and we were going to do something special for them or die trying. (Faralee is SO DRAMATIC sometimes.)<br />
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So we threw together an impromptu, surprise, Renaissance Faire (with an E), and had it in my backyard.<br />
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For the first time ever my back "yard" full of dirt and weeds was landscape appropriate!<br />
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STEP 1: Collect as many Pop-Up Canopies as you could (I guess for us that was a total of 3. More would have been better, but we needed to spend as little money as possible. So 3 was our magical number.)<br />
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STEP 2: Dress up the canopies. Everyone donated all the old fabric and sheets they could spare. (It is times like this that it is handy to have so many siblings.) Faralee cut the sheets into these fancy scallop shapes using pinking shears--I'm sure this shape has a name, but I don't know what it is-- and then embellished them with stamps or simple lines.<br />
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As you can see from the picture we didn't have time for straight lines, and we just pinned the fabric right on to the canopies and you know what? It looked fine. It even looked kind of awesome. So being a perfectionist doesn't always pay off in the long run.<br />
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Then we took other fabric and pinned it too the back of the canopies to make them feel a little more like booths.<br />
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We had a tent for the King and Queen (my parents)<br />
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A tent for crafts<br />
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and a big tent for food.<br />
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The bunting along the back there is just made out of paper. Cheap and Easy-Peasy. Well, easy for me. Fae spent hours cutting and assembling bunting, because she is a champ.<br />
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STEP 3: Make Some Signs.<br />
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Here is a shot of the "entrance" to the backyard. You can never have too much bunting. I know the truck sort of ruins the effect, but what are you gonna do?<br />
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Here is a close up of the sign I made:<br />
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I bought the banner art, and then filled it in with words and had it printed at a local print shop. Then I taped it to a big piece of felt because that is what I had. It DID NOT work well. Paper and fabric are not great friends when you stick them in the wind together. Faralee also spent some time making some rag bunting, which had a very nice effect, but I don't have a decent picture of it.<br />
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Then there is this, cuz why not? Cardstock glued to cardboard, just like in ye olden times.<br />
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Why did I write some of the words in all caps and some not? I couldn't tell you.<br />
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We also needed a sign on the food tent. I found images of blank wooden signs and added the words. They are just printed on card stock (two pieces that I taped together so they were sturdier and could be read from both sides.)<br />
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STEP 4: Make Lots and Lots and Lots of Food.<br />
As you can see we served Meat on a Stick (Brats stuck on a skewer), Chicken Legs, Cobbler, homemade icecream and my sister Faemarie's phenomenal peach pie. We also had corn on the cob, grapes, cheese and crackers and probably some other stuff that I can't remember. I really wish I had a picture, but we ate it too fast.<br />
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The chicken was way too much work. It shouldn't have been, but it took forever to cook, and lots of us spent the first half of the party in the kitchen. So figure out something more crowd friendly when you have your own Ren Faire.<br />
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STEP 5: Make and Set up Games. Ie.<br />
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Nine Men's Morris<br />
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I haven't the slightest idea how to play this. Faralee made this too, so I just don't know what to tell you.<br />
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We also set up some logs for the kids to stand on and hit each other with sticks.<br />
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Whoever stays on longest wins!<br />
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And then we had face painting which some of the nieces were more than happy to oversee.<br />
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STEP 9 (I lost count. What number are we on?): Invite a Whole Bunch of People!<br />
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When my whole family gets together there are about 40 of us, so we're a decent group all on our own. But we also made sure to invite all of my parents siblings who live close enough to come, and some of my parent's good friends.<br />
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We told people to dress up if they wanted to.<br />
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Some did, some didn't. Harrison put on some church clothes and Colin put on his SWAT costume and it was all fine, and fun and wonderful.<br />
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STEP 10: Don't forget to invite the Guests of Honor. Otherwise all your effort will be wasted.<br />
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STEP 11: Let the magic happen!<br />
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At some point, you must sit back, and let your hasty and inexpensive efforts come to fruition. So you can just enjoy being together. We were fortunate enough that a bunch of nieces and nephews wrote and performed a play, all without any prompting from the adults.<br />
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One of the little girls kept calling out from the stage "I'm doing a great job, Mom!"<br />
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We all did a great job. In fact, all in all we had so much fun that we talked about doing it again. Maybe every single year.<br />
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That was two years ago, and we haven't done it since, but my parents 52nd anniversary is coming up in July. Will this be the year we have another Renaissance Faire? Or will we decide once again that laying around eating Popsicle is a better use of our time? Who knows? Join us in two more years to find out!elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-74256452973863443882019-05-25T09:09:00.000-06:002019-05-28T13:19:24.491-06:00To Read ImmediatelyMy To Read Immediately list is getting a little out of hand.<br />
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Actually, no. Most of the books on the left I have read already. I pulled them out for research. The book I'm writing now has a 3rd person omniscient narrator and I wanted to see how it is done in books I love.<br />
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So here is my research stack;<br />
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And HERE is my To Read Immediately stack:<br />
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I stuck them up on my nightstand so I don't forget about them.<br />
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I feel I need to distinguish here between a "To Read" list, and a "To Read Immediately" list. The key here is the word <i>immediately</i>. You may not be familiar with it. It is a word meaning <u>AT ONCE, INSTANTLY</u>. It is a self imposed, fast approaching deadline. Which means I really need to be reading these before I do anything else. And honestly it is stressing me out. But what can I do? They are on my nightstand. Books on a nightstand are a binding contract.<br />
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And this doesn't even include the the books on my phone I have to finish for my bookclub, and the ones I checked out from Overdrive. Ah!<br />
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Let's look at each one shall we? Why not? Do you have somewhere else to be?<br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Lovestruck</b></i> by Kate Watson</span> (who also happens to be my cousin-in-law, which you have to admit is very awesome.)</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Neverwhere</b></i> by Neil Gaiman</span> (Just finished his masterclass, and decided I should probably get around to reading a few more of his books.)</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Mortal Engine</b>s</i> by Phillip Reeve </span>(The audiobook is fantastic. I'm about halfway through, but I always struggle to find time to listen.)</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Christmas Jars</b></i> by Jason Wright. </span>(Yeah. I've never read it. Have you?)</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Minnie Kim: Vampire Girl </b>by Ali Cross</i> </span>(Winner of the Whitney Award for YA Speculative Fiction)</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>A Monster Like Me </b>by Wendy Swore</i></span> (I picked up this book based solely on the title and the cover. Which, um, I don't have a picture of. Sorry.)</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>And Then There Were None</b></i> by Agatha Christie.</span> (Birthday present from my fantastic friend Jeri.)</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Douglas Adams' Shada</b></i> by Gareth Roberts </span>(I still intend to do reviews of all the books on my book shelf, and this is the next one in line. I stuck it with the rest of my Douglas Adams books, but I THINK it is a book based on a Doctor Who episode written by Douglas Adams? Maybe? I'll let you know after I read it.)</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>The Last Unicorn</b></i> by Peter S. Beagle</span> (The book the 80's cartoon was based on. Recommended by my niece Emily.)</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Shattered Snow</b></i> by Rachel Huffmire</span> (I met Rachel at a class at Storymakers. She told me about her book and, boom! It magically appeared in my to read pile!)</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Legion</b></i> by Brandon Sanderson</span> (cuz, obviously)</li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge</b></i> by Eugene Yelchin</span> (saw this on overdrive. Checked it out-after a long wait- listened to a bit and loved it so much I had to hold that book in my hands. It has pictures!)</li>
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Thanks for stopping by for some informative pictures of books! Until next time.<br />
<br />elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-765375510054691281.post-57635065984513440312019-05-20T15:15:00.000-06:002019-05-25T18:43:41.942-06:00STORYMAKERS CONFERENCE - 2019My favorite weekend came and went and it was wonderful and now it is over. That is how things work after all. It is sad that it is over, but after two days my brain had reached its maximum information capacity.<br />
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There were so many great classes I'm not sure which one was my favorite. I loved Sara Eden's class about the <i>Theory of Mind</i>. It was fascinating. (And I'm not going to go into it now. Look it up if you want to know more.) And Dennis Gaunt's class <i>Simulating the Slushpile</i> was hilarious. He's a slushpile reader for Shadow Mountain and he had a bunch of writers send him stuff showing some common mistakes writer's make. I went because I needed a brain break and it was so, so, so funny. (You can see why I want to be a writer. That description was so vivid I'm sure you feel like you were there in the room with me, don't you?)<br />
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Most of my <a href="https://www.americannightwriters.org/" target="_blank">ANWA</a> writing group was there and I loved sitting with them during meals and having stimulating conversations.<br />
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I realized during the final meal that I hadn't taken a single picture, so I whipped out my phone and snapped a few.<br />
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Then I said, "Take a picture of this side of the table." and handed Alison my phone and then I did this:<br />
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Because apparently I struggle posing for pictures like a normal person. Thank goodness I'll always have that photo for posterity.<br />
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Before we went home we rounded up as many of us as we could and got a picture altogether.<br />
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Now I just have to incorporate all the wisdom that was dumped on me into my writing and I'm sure I'll be an expert in No Time!elesahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.com